Solstice in an Eclipse

Chapters

Revolution
For Fate Never Waited for Anypony
Just a Distant Memory
Alternative Plan
Brush of the Night and Death
Fateful Meeting and Hope

Revolution

Blinking once then twice before realization hit him that there was a fireball coming straight for him, he flapped his wings furiously, managing to dodge it entirely. Quickly it passed by him, and a moment after, a loud explosion; screams of earth ponies that were unfortunately caught in the blast drowsed in the air. Yet another fireball arced toward him once again; were they targeting him?!

“BUCK THIS!” The white pegasi was surrounded by a purple aura, the magic being stronger encompassing his obsidian sword.

“Hold on Risk, building the magic up!” The dark lavender unicorn came into view as her horn hummed with power.

“Well hurry the buck up, Twilight! It's coming. Oh buck, oh buck!” Risk dropped the scabbard; it would only get in his way. Tightening his arm muscles, he took a swing with the sword at the fireball, stopping it at the nick of time. The force of the fireball was slowly pushing him back as Twilight worked to build more and more of her magic.

From the corner of his eye, a bright light grew brighter. “Horseapples!” He shouted as another fireball in another color came up, arcing toward his lavender unicorn companion. “Oh no, no! No you don't!” His fighting spirit renewing, he flared up as he finally acknowledged that the link-up from Twilight was in effect. With a strong arm, he pushed the fireball that he was holding back with a powerful swing. “Hyeh!”

He had redirected the fireball toward the other fireball, holding his sword with a strong arm. Beating his wings out of sheer adrenaline, he flew toward the floating unicorn with all of his might; grabbing her tightly as he flew down toward the earth, the fireballs slowly came into contact with each other. Various agonizing yells radiated out of the battlefield as the two fireballs crashed into each other, producing a loud and bright explosion hundreds of feet in the air. After it dwindled, a strong shockwave crashed into the ground, spreading outwards and knocking out the soldiers who were the closest to the blast.

Groaning, the pegasus got back up on his hooves, holding in his scream as he felt one of his hind-legs was broken, but he felt compelled to stay strong for her. Frantically, he checked the unicorn; a sigh of relief that she was unscratched. Twilight began to giggle at his concern. “Don't worry; it would take more than that to kill me.” She looked him in the eyes, “Risk... It's time.” her horn began to glow in a darker purple.

Quickly jumping to his hooves, he flapped his wings to check if they were still functional. Pegasus battalion began to surround him, awaiting his orders. Taking in a large breath, he still had to play the part. “We are a clenched hoof, ready to strike down all who oppose us with our might.” Risk declared with a strong voice, “Today, we bring to end of this damned war and await our true decisive victory! Fly, and charge in with all your might!!! Slash, swing, stab, bash, punch or even bite, I don't care! Fight for your Queen and the homeland of Equestria! Struggle, struggle with all of your power to bring our home and her pride. CHARGE IN! CHARGE IN. I COMMAND YOU TO CHARGE IN! AND END IT!” With a thunderous sound of hundreds of wings taking off, the earth rumbled as the earth ponies in heavy black armor rushed passed them. Unicorns bowing their head, they started their battle spells of black fireballs, thundershowers, fire, anything they could conjure, firing it upon the rebellions which were gathered at other side.

The rebellions, known as the Dawn Militia, launched their second assault. Killing or capturing Nightmare Moon took the first priority. Their secondary goal, killing or capturing the dreaded commanders of dark battalions, Twilight Sparkle “former” Element of Magic, and Risk, also known as “White Lighting of Death”, which spoke of his speed and the inevitability which came with it.

Princess Celestia, the regal sun goddess is the ultimate goal; break her banishment and bring peace back to Equestria.

“How long do you need, Twilight?” Risk asked, dusting himself off in the air. Watching his battalion charging in the fight was bringing itself to a close as each side fell one by one; the air whistling with arrows flying. One particular pegasus was unlucky as he got stuck by seven arrows, one through his eye, killing him instantly, he dropped down to Equestria. A loud, horrified scream resounded behind Risk; he turned his head grimacing as a stallion unicorn started to cry at the blackened, charred body of his lover. Nodding his head gently at the stallion acknowledging his loss, a voice finally rang out.

“Twenty minutes is all I need, I've already put enough of that into you. Don't die!” the dark lavender horn began to glow darker with each passing moment, staring intently at the hovering white pegasi.

Risk grimaced, “I cannot guarantee that promise this time. I'll try to not get killed, without saying that is...” Closing his eyes, he leaned over and gave Twilight a long and passionate kiss as she returns one of her own, smiling weakly when they broke it off—probably for last time. Her purple mane rippled in the wind as Risk gave his wings a strong flap, taking off. One rebel pegasi managed to get passed the defense they had set up, but was only to be stopped by Risk’s black sword slicing through the flesh of his right wing; suddenly losing the ability of flight, the attacker dropped like rock.

With a quick wing manipulation, he pulled off a ninety degree climb toward the black blob in the sky. Slowly and surely, the blob formed into a familiar shape. As he climbed toward it, a black fireball began to form next to it, and it was launched down toward him. He smiled slightly—even though he hated her with all of his passion—because the fireball wasn’t meant to target him as it flew straight and true. It made its target straight into a rebel pegasi that was chasing Risk; the fireball exploded with black flaming magic, and the pegasus plunged the earth with loud crack, killing her instantly. The outline from the blob in the sky became a figure as Risk finally arrived; slowly the teal eyes of hers glanced over at him and boomed.

“Ah, my commander, how art thou faring in this battle?” An evil smirk slowly formed on her face.

Flapping his wings while turning around—his back now to Nightmare Moon—yet another fireball arced through the air toward both of them. “It's faring pretty well; half of their force is retreating as we're pushing forward with the earth ponies’ diversion.” He grunted, and waiting for the proper moment, he stabbed the incoming fireball, and magic activated upon his strike, and the fireball absorbed into his sword. “Victory is only... two steps from now, my Majesty.” He gave a second glance at Twilight on the ground who was secretly charging up her spell.

Nightmare Moon cackled, “Very good. Verrry good.” As she flapped in the air with her majestic black wings, her horn glowing a deadly but beautiful blue aura that was splashed with mini stars within it. “Today is the day when I recognize my dream of making eternal night true!” Her horn glowed menacingly; the magic aura of her mane spread wildly across the sky in a spiraling fassion, filling the atmosphere with her desired night, laughing from the pit of her black heart.

“So far, so good…” Risk thought, taking a deep breath as he shot off toward the battle. The magic that was stored within his sword caressed his body, slowly forming a purple aura that surrounded him entirely. As he arrived, aligning his wings, he circled around his prey. From the battlefield below, a couple pegasi shot up toward him in a trail of dust. The first pegasus came at him with his sword, and sliced his weapon through the air toward him. Before it could make contact with Risk, he blocked it with their swords clashing together; he used the magic in his sword that repelled the pegasus’ attack back, and Risk returned his own assault and with a powerful swing, he cut the pegasi in half, painting his white coat in red.

Risk quickly shot a look at the second pegasi, smirking as the enemy began to sweat and shake in the air as he watched his friend fall toward Equestria in two pieces, holding his tears back and shouted in anger, “YOU..YOU MONSTER!”

For once, Risk felt bit terrible, remorse at it's lowest; he deciding to spare him of his fate. Taking off with a powerful thrust with his wings, the enemy flinched at Risk’s assault. Instead of slicing through, he missed and attacked the air next to the enemy, then heaved a powerful punch to his face, knocking him out. The unconscious pegasi then fell from the air, and collapsed into the ground with a thud.

The chaotic battle that has been taking place began to reach it's finale as the sounds of thousands of weapons clashed loudly, with screams of freshly wounded ponies on both sides, crying, and mixed shouts of orders integrated in the air. Everything was loud; it never seemed to silence even for second. Eventually, Risk glanced at Twilight in the distance; her horn giving off a familiar colored glow. He let out a painful groan as he felt something piercing through his right hoofleg; blood began to slowly seep out. Growling in anger, he turned his head quickly and noticed an earth pony on the ground holding a bow, fumbling to reload his weapon.

“Nope, you don't!” Risk rushed toward the earth pony, and the bowpony held up his bow with the pathetic attempt to use it as a shield, and the pegasi sliced right through the bow and flesh; the bowpony dropped, and began crawling on the ground like a vermin.

Refocusing his eyes, Risk’s sword began to drain of its power that Twilight had transferred into it earlier. It was the signal; it was time. A strange sound rumbled out of the sword, and a loud bang as a purple aura finally dissipated. Laughing his heart out, it was the moment of do or die; his comrades were confused at the strange turn of behavior of their commander.

“Sir? Sir!” few ponies inquired of him.

“I'm fine.” Risk slowly casted his eyes at the sky above; it seemed so peaceful—stars were twinkling with the single moon casting light upon the land. It was ironic that such a beautiful thing had become so hated by many. “Twilight, thank you...” he thought. Building his courage as he gave his wings a flap, he shouted his final order to his captain, “Push them back, as long you can!”

Saluting, the blue earth pony went off shouting the order.

Risk shifted his focus on the black blob in the sky, surrounded by a blue astral magic. Gripping his dark sword, memories of Twilight began to dance through his head as courage of his exploded like an erupting volcano. Quickly with a thrust of his wings, he took off the ground. Twilight’s face was scowling, and her eyebrows furrowed; it was the tense moment that they have waited two years for.

The body of his started to scream in fear, as it knew exactly where this was going to go. Regardless, Risk ignored it with his mind, courage and promise that he made a long time ago with Twilight. The black blob very quickly multiplied in size as he flew closer and closer, and tensing his muscles up, he guided his sword straight for that damned black alicorn's heart...

and only few hooves from the target.

Then darkness came.

“RISK!!!” a strong, feminine voice shrieked.

* * * * *

Two years earlier...

For Fate Never Waited for Anypony

*Patter patter patter patter*

“Ugh, my cigarette,” a voice echoed a little bit in the streets of Manehattan. Tipping his black Gatsby cap before looking up at the sky, the pony raised his voice with a mixture of annoyance and sarcasm, sarcasm taking up major part of it. “Damn you weather pegasi, you just ruined my last cigarette.” Flicking it away, he resumed his trotter, yawning. It was pouring heavily outside. Grey clouds brewed around above in the sky, depleting their contents. Street lights flickered on and off, and most of apartment’s lights were off, signifying ponies sleeping. As he trotted, he finally came into view under the flickering street light. Briefly showing him, his features became clear. He was a lonely white pegasus with a streaked red mane, standing there briefly. Most ponies were scared of him; it wasn't because he was a stranger. What was off-putting about him were his crimson eyes. He was adorned with scars on all four legs, and some were visible on his chest, though they were faint. Major scars that he had were hidden on his lower chest and belly.

Little fillies would say to their parents: “He scares me.” Such a simple statement, while their parents would freeze in their spots, scared that he could look at the real you, not just you. Your soul was open to him. Instantly imaging that he was a violent pegasus due to his scars, which were always last to be noticed. When he arrived in this city about a year ago, after wandering town to town just scrapping by, sometimes he would have to eat and run so he could have food in his stomach. He would steal sometimes to acquire bits for the next few weeks; he was outcast to all but himself. Orphaned at a very young age, his parents died - he didn’t even know them that well, either. All he remembered about them were the white coat and a warm smile, though his memories were very fuzzy. He had no role model to teach him about life. Risk himself had to learn what was wrong from right from scratch, from trial and error - his scars were a testament of his experiences throughout his life. His family wasn't exactly warm and welcoming, either: they just threw him out, casting him out because he was different from all pegasi and ponies in general. Not to mention that he was also a blank flank at an age where ponies should already have theirs.

Risk didn't mind it... very much. Stretching his wings, he saw some light prodding out at the end of the street. It was a coffee shop; he dryly chuckled. He peeked his head in after opening the door a little bit, only to be greeted by the sound of a door bell, followed by a voice. “Welcome to Koffee Kat! What service can I-”

Risk walked up to the counter, rummaging through his pocket before the pegasus and threw some bits on it, smiling while taking a napkin out of its dispenser, then proceeded to start drying himself off with it. Still in motion, he swiftly took his cap off and set it on an empty seat next to him.

“Risk- I should have known it was you. Why don't you just come in during the day?”

Shrugging and resting his eyes on the coffee-maker, he responded, “You should know by now: I'm... not much of pony-pony. The only reason I come in to talk with you and pay for your service, as well as your good-to-goddess coffee, is that you don't attempt to pry into my business.” He clapped his hoof, subtly changing the subject before the other could reply. “So, have any new coffee recipe that is brewing back there that has the potential to kill me? Affogato…?” The brown-coated earth colt with an even darker brown mane – and, not so surprisingly, brown eyes, with a coffee brewing cutie mark - snapped his head toward Risk, glaring at him hard before guffawing, “In fact...”

“Eeep!” Risk rebutted, becoming a little nervous with the bad vibe that Affogato was giving off. That earth pony made some of best damn coffee in this city, but his eccentric personality toward coffee was something to talk about. He experimented with coffee, trying out some new and crazy recipes. Some were very good, and those were added to the menu. But some tasted god-awful. Risk grimaced, thinking it wouldn't be possible to describe some of them at all. The last recipe that he created was good to taste, but to his stomach, it was like being stabbed and then having the knife twisted around. Spent about half a day of his life inside a bathroom. He shuddered as that memory resurfaced inside his head. Again, that train of thought was deterred by the sound of a cup clunking on the counter with the announcement, “If you can drink this and be satisfied with it – or, as you put it, have it ‘nearly kill you’ –” he waved his forelegs in and air-quote before continuing – “you don't have to pay for it.” The colt paused before continuing on. “However, if you don't want to - I’ll take your bits and brew up the usual.”

Risk's brain had an internal battle. Ultimately, getting free stuff overpowered his common sense, so he picked up the cup and drank it – slowly, I might add.

Moments passed before the realization came to him that nothing happened! The same words echoed in his head repeatedly. Risk sighed slowly, letting relief wash over his body as realization that he wouldn’t face “death” this time came about. He chuckled briefly, as it was still echoing inside his head, before finally speaking up. “This is a good cup. Not bad. Tastes like the café mocha that you created about a month ago.” Oddly enough, that brown colt sighed as his own relief washed over him. “Thank Celestia,” the brown colt laughed. “Thanks for your help. At least you didn't die this time.” Risk stared at him briefly before joining him for a laugh. It was small load off his shoulder; they kept talking throughout the night, about boring stuff that Risk didn't even remember. He mentioned that there was the Summer Sun Celebration that was coming up, but Risk just waved it off.

Another day, another routine. This went on for a couple of weeks, just wandering in the “The Big Apple,” sleeping throughout the day and visiting his “friend” once in a while at Koffee Kat. He did return to some not-so-approving activities that he did to support himself. He scored a gem in a caper and sold it for about two hundred bits, which wasn't too bad, since that was plenty to support himself for three weeks at most if he stretched the “budget.” The first thing that he purchased was a new pack of black clove cigarettes; he was moderately happy, even if he was fooling himself. Unwrapping the plastic wrapper off the cardboard container, he took out one cigarette. He finally kicked the nicotine he needed to the curb as he took a long drag. Grey smoke filled the air around the pegasus, without a care about Equestria or the rest of the world.

One day, that routine was broken forever. On the day of Summer Sun Celebration.

When the bright sky turned into night and never changed back into morning.

Fate had something planned for him.
For fate never waited for anypony.

What tipped Risk off that there was something wrong was the general panic on street: organized chaos with hundreds of ponies in all sizes, age and three races looked up to the sky where Celestia's sun was supposed to be. Everypony kept asking same stupid question over and over: “Where is the sun?” Then it lead to “Where's Princess Celestia? What's wrong with Princess Celestia?” It was the “day” after the Summer Sun Celebration, and Risk just wrote it off to Celestia being sick, or something along those lines. Exhaling as he lit up his drag, he looked up silently to the moon. It was too cold, yet beautiful, just staying up in the sky.

However...he was wrong. Dead wrong.

As the story goes, it was the day of Summer Sun Celebration in some small town – Ponyville, it was – where Princess Celestia was supposed to go to greet her subjects and her personal student that she took in when she was filly. The other powerful alicorn, sister of their sun-goddess, was known as “Mare in the Moon” Princess Luna, but better known by her moniker name, Nightmare Moon, escaped her thousand year imprisonment. Princess Celestia had fought Nightmare Moon but failed miserably, as she couldn't wield the Elements of Harmony herself. Their duel ended with Nightmare Moon banishing her to her own sun.

Six of the Elements of Harmony had fought, but failed. As time passed, more information came out that five of those elements were alive as well, but the sixth was taken prisoner by Nightmare Moon. Rumors went around like that for while; nopony was sure what exactly had happened. Nothing was out of place for a few days after that supposed event; it was still bit of routine for Risk. He didn't care, as long it didn't affect his life. But one day, everything got shaken and turned upside-down when Nightmare Moon finally claimed her throne and began her terrible rule of Equestria. Darkness crept all across Equestria, as more and more ponies became scared and angry about recent events. Rumors that were believed to be untrue and fabricated turned out to be accurate to the T. Tons of rebellions and branches of them, from lower-class ponies to higher-class, and even some royalty, taking up the cause of bringing back Princess Celestia, spawned all across Equestria as well, bringing about the beginning of total war. He learned soon after that he would not meet his “friend” for while, as he joined a rebellion and was going to fight against Nightmare Moon and her dreaded rule. Somewhat disappointed that he wouldn't get to drink his coffee for a long time, they shook hoofs as a good-bye. Affogato turned around and left Risk in front of his coffee shop, heading off to fight Nightmare Moon and her army. It was permanently closed, but as a token of his friendship, the brown colt “loaned” the place over to Risk, so that he could take care of it in his absence. The great city of Manehattan literally got silent: nopony dared to wander around or do business. It was eerie; the city that never sleeps had just entered into a coma.

In a few weeks, Equestria was plunged into chaos. Risk had to adapt and fall into a new routine when new laws that were made up by Nightmare Moon were implemented. It outlined the absolute obedience to the new queen, and if anyone was caught rebelling against it, they were captured, imprisoned or killed. The new “keeper” of the coffee shop was a witness to the laws in question; he watched with his own eyes as some ponies were ushered away into a wagon and carried off. Some were killed on the spot when they attempted to reduce Nightmare Moon's military might, even if it was one lowly peon soldier. While this was going on, the crime rate went up exponentially- robberies, muggings, and similar types of crime were common as ponies had to fall back to those methods to survive. He was one of the lucky ones - he could survive off the stock that Affogato had for his shop.

Sitting there silently in the darkness, no lights were on in Koffee Kat. The scent of cigarettes lingering, Risk rested his head on his crossed forelegs on the counter. Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the earth, causing Risk to snap his head up. It was in the distance, and he could see purple smoke turning black; everypony in Manehattan was watching from a distance. In high towers, on the street, in the air. The air was filled with the wrenching sound of a battlefield.

He threw the door open and left, but not before locking it up. Flapping his wings, he took off into the air toward the battlefield. He wasn't sure why he was doing this, but it seemed that something was calling out for him. Taking a breath as he landed on the outskirts of the fighting, he saw thousand of spears, swords, halberds, and magic spells filling up the air - arcing upward then downward. What stood out was...

This smell.
This is was the scent of death.
This was the goddamned fragrance of war.

The sandwich and coffee that he had for lunch that day decided to go out another way than usual. He held his stomach, keeping a keen eye on the gruesome scene of thousands of dead ponies. Pegasi missing their wings, apparently cut by swords; unicorns burnt to ashes from magic spells; and earth ponies disemboweled. Guts, blood and parts were spread about. Dragons and various other miscellaneous species on both sides fought, their roars filling the air. Groans, moaning, and yelling took place, but what struck him the most was the crying. Death was inevitable for some ponies: they couldn't avoid it, even if they had the will to do so. Slowly, he scanned the field. Fate clicked into place once again as he saw Nightmare Moon smirking with a victorious face. Thinking that she had unnatural beauty for such a dark alicorn, he shook his head.

Ignoring her, slowly a smaller unicorn came into his field of view. She was a dark purple unicorn with a few fresh, red scars slashed across her body. Slowly, he took in her features: the straightened but darkened mane. Her eyes seemed dead: there was no remorse, sadness, anger, or any form of emotion in them.

For some reason that struck an chord for Risk: his heart hurt like never before. It felt like there was something just twisting his heart. His eyes started to water and become glassy with tears, because he knew those eyes. In the past, he used to have those eyes. Breathing heavily, all kinds of emotion recoiled around his body as his repressed memories flipped through his head. At that moment, he learned more about himself than in past 16 years altogether. He collapsed into the ground, crying; he used to hate himself, until that moment. Emotion that was bottled up all those years spilled out just like that, because of those eyes. After a few minutes had passed, he got up slowly from his position, with his mind and emotions resolved - he could not allow another pony to be like him, ever again.

White ears perked up, he listened, but there was nothing- silence. Slowly raising his head, he peeked carefully over the hill.

The same sight met him, but that purple unicorn had vanished, along with that damned alicorn. It got deathly quiet; too quiet. A lump in his throat developed, and he couldn't shallow it. Breathing became slow and heavy as he slumped on his flank.

“I have to meet her… but how?”

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Proof-read and edits by Doom_Pie. Thank you!

Just a Distant Memory

It was just some distant memory now.

Servants of the castle cringed and scurried off to do their business as they allowed their Queen through, darkened purple unicorn in tow, just walking in monotone, just staring straight ahead at nothing. All of those ponies that they had just left behind for dead near Manehattan were just part of some distant memory to this purple mare. As she was going to take another trot, the astral blue tail stopped abruptly. Out of fear, reflex, and experience, she froze at the spot while a chill went through her spine. She wanted to let out a whimper, having to use all her mental strength not to. Nightmare Moon just looked at her, smirking as she turned another way into her personal royal chamber.

Quivering for few moments, she realized that she was spared...for now. She climbed long, spiral staircases, repeating her previous actions. Small windows spaced apart on the way up occasionally flashed a bright moon, with millions of stars twinkling silently in the background. She didn't care anymore, nor could she stand to look at it without reminding her of what exactly she went through. Leaning against the wall, shuddering, yelling at herself mentally for bringing it up. Holding back tears, she exhaled slowly as she once again resumed her long trotter.

A loud creak announced her presence around the room, although the only inhabitant that could have acknowledged her was a fly sitting on some torn and raggedy curtain. The only bare materials in the room were a small wooden table and a simple stiff bed equipped with a thin sheet. A large window filtered moonlight in, making her bed glow slightly grayish. Her horn started to hum in an aphotic lavender color as she started to climb into bed with her door closing by the surrounding dark purple aura.

Slowly picking up the blanket with her forehoofs and pulling it over her, she felt moderately successful with shutting herself down, away from Equestria and the rest of the land, one hundred percent certain that she was alone, in her own world inside that heap of blanket. Silent tears fell, gradually upgrading to stifled sobs to full out crying. Fighting a strong mental and emotional battle once again, she hated herself. Even more so because she was responsible for a few of the ponies' end earlier in Manehattan, as well as in previous endeavors. This unicorn was getting used to killing, and it scared her to her core, but that didn't mean she had come to like it.

Her first experience on the battlefield surfaced in her memory: it was the conflict near Fillydelphia. Vividly, she recalled how long it took to strangle someone with magic: it was slow and painful for both sides. It was some gray-coated stallion who opposed Nightmare Moon's rule and saw her as an enemy, causing him lunge at her during the course of the battle. The purple unicorn had no choice as she saw it, clenching her eyes shut as she grabbed a hold of him. Her purple aura enveloped him, with the area around his neck darkening. She cried as she could feel less and less of his flailing through the sense of her magic. She let go, hearing a dull thud as the purple aura around him dissipated. At that moment, she changed – something inside of her had been thrown away and buried. She was sickened with grief as she looked at dead stallion’s lifeless eyes. One tear came out of his left eye.

Snapping out of her swirling head, panting, she heard ‘enough is enough’ ring through her head. She slowly climbed out of bed, leaning over the window and slowly looking up at the moon.

“...why did this happen?” the unicorn finally spoke with a tear breaking out of her eye as she started to recall the event that triggered this cascade of events.

***

An image slowly came into her head: she remembered sitting under the shade of a tree on a beautiful day, reading the legend of the Elements of Harmony, which led her to read briefly about the “Mare in the Moon.” As she did, she learned it was that year when Nightmare Moon would break out of her moon prison, and return to take revenge against Celestia. This compelled her to tell Spike to write a note to Princess Celestia.

For some reason, she could recite what she said, exactly.

“My Dearest Teacher,

My continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster.”

Spike butted in, having difficulty writing those words. She attempted to simplify it for her little dragon assistant.

“Threshold?”

“Er, brink…?”

With a sigh, the young unicorn finally laid it out.

“That something really bad is about to happen! For you see, the mythical Mare in the Moon is, in fact, Nightmare Moon, and she's about to return to Equestria and bring her eternal night! Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true!"

I await your quick response.

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle”

She blinked as that scene floated in her mind. This was the letter that led to a quick response from Princess Celestia that sent her to Ponyville to check on things – but, more importantly, make friends.

The Summer Sun Celebration. Drooping her ears, she recalled of how she met five ponies during her time there.

Pinkie Pie was the first;

then Applejack;

and then Rainbow Dash.

Slowly, the last two crept into her head: Rarity and Fluttershy.

Her memory skipped ahead right to the duel that the Elements of Harmony had with Nightmare Moon after having already defeated Princess Celestia, banishing her to the sun. The Elements of Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty and Magic were Equestria's last hope. After giving Nightmare Moon a lecture about the power of friendship, they sent a rainbow energy blast toward Nightmare, infused with power of friendship. Twilight's eyes glowed white as Nightmare Moon screamed, “Noooo!” which turned to sarcastic low pitch of “Noooo...” before the air filled with a mocking and insane laughter, as the astral magic around her seemed to disappear, only to reappear and reconstruct her form. After a moment, the laughter subdued. Fluttershy whimpered; Rainbow Dash gasped; Applejack was trying to figure out what happened while Rarity fainted. Pinkie Pie just simply looked around with bewilderment on her face, random thoughts ringing around her head.

Nightmare Moon’s astral magic swirled around the room, as she was about to start her counter-assault on the element-bearers. Out of concern for her new friends, Twilight didn't think the plan out. Flicking her head, she threw the Element of Magic tiara onto the floor causing it to clatter. She started to sprint, running toward the dark alicorn, then jumping as her horn hummed brightly as soon as Twilight reached her target. Bright white light filled up the room that they dueled in; then, with a loud crack and a secondary flash, they were suddenly gone, leaving the rest of Mane 5 with shocked and quizzical faces.

***

Twilight slowly looked down at her forelegs, then her chest and belly. Some fresh scars started to show as the moonlight shone on it; tears came up again, suppressing her grief. Slowly slumping on ground, she ran her hoof over some of it. The window that she was near suddenly seemed like a very good friend, and a welcoming one at that. She then began to recall the occurrence between herself and Queen Nightmare Moon. Burying her head in her forelegs, her mind rewound to the moment where they got out of the teleportation spell, and of what happened afterward, up until now.

***

Shaking her head out of a daze, she looking up when her vision went straight. Anger was slashed across Nightmare Moon's face as she picked Twilight up by her hind leg with her astral magic. Flailing around, Twilight tried to fight back with her magic, but it flickered, and only sparks came out because she was in panic. Turning her head up while she was upside down, what she saw sent a chill through her spine. Finally, the alicorn had a sadistic smile; there was no hint about what exactly Nightmare Moon was thinking.

Slam, slam, crash, slam; an impact, then a sweep.

Twilight moaned and groaned from the pain. Nightmare Moon coordinated her assault, sending waves over Twilight's body, sending the purple unicorn into trees, the ground, rocks, and anything that was available for her to use. The last thing Twilight could remember, as she was looping in the air with a few bones broken, bleeding from her face and body, was that she sliced through the air before sliding on the ground.

“FROM TODAY ON THOU SHALL BE ENSLAVED TO DO WHAT I COMMAND. IF THOU DON'T DO WHAT I SAY, THOU SHALL MEET YOUR DEATH!”

Nightmare Moon shouted at the unmoving but alive unicorn, knowing that she had heard that before she drifted into world of unconsciousness.

A few hours later, she found herself shackled in a bare room in the highest tower at the castle where the former Princess Celestia used to reside, now currently occupied by Nightmare Moon. Chains that were bounded to her hind legs seemed to be magically enchanted. Groaning, she became aware of the pain in her legs and chest; evidently, they were still broken and heavily bruised. She nonetheless started her attempts at escape. She first tried to pull with raw power, hoping that she could just slip out of her restraints. Clenching her teeth, she fought through the pain: this was her first experience with the pain that came with broken bones. After a few clangs, it was unsuccessful. “COME ON,” she screamed, terror dripping from her voice. Staring intensely at the door, she repeated her attempts at escaping. “COME ONNNNNNN, BUCK IT!” She composed herself with deep breaths – in and out, in and out.

Deciding to try something new to escape, her horn flicked on, a sharp wave of headache shooting through her head. She fell to the ground, assuming the fetal position as she clenched her head with her forehoofs. Evidently, that enchantment was one of the ways to prevent her from using her magic, in case she tried to exploit it to break the chains and shackle. After a few minutes, she got up. It felt like hours! She was getting weak and tired from continual attempts at running away. She relaxed for minute, composing herself. Then, a clattering sound started to fill up the room as she gave it her all.

Footsteps could be heard beyond the door, and Twilight got deathly silent as she figured if it was coming toward or going away. However, she had her answer as a black flash beamed across the room. In front of her was Nightmare Moon, her face stoic as she stared down the chained prisoner. Slowly, she grinned, and said, “DIDN'T I SAY IF YOU TRIED TO ESCAPE, THAT THOU WOULD BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY?!” In truth, she never said it in any earlier encounter with the unicorn – she simply felt like saying it. Searching around the room, Nightmare Moon spotted something that would do – for now – and picked it up with her blue aura. It was a large, wooden post that was snapped off the bed, floating just above her. Before Twilight could react, Nightmare Moon beat her with it, striking her over and over. At first she resisted, but with new injuries stacking on her previous ones, her body just gave up as Nightmare Moon tortured her for a few minutes before leaving, bored with her already. She just laid there...

Battered.

Crying softly, unmoving.

This repeated for few weeks, with various objects. What finally broke her was the whip: that device was responsible for all of the scars on her body. Whimpering as the alicorn beat her with it, something inside Twilight snapped, and she threw and buried another part of herself; it could be described as getting used to the pain. Dead but yet alive, she just laid there as she took the beating. New slashing lines crossed, going parallel, zigzagging, staying on her across her coat and skin.

One night, however...

Physical beatings suddenly became uninteresting for the dark ruler, so one night she went into Twilight's room as usual. She looked down at the shaking unicorn, her horn glowing in a dark blue hue that started to levitate Twilight into the air, the dark alicorn's eyes starting to glow black. Both of their horns finally linked as Nightmare Moon pushed the purple unicorn into deep sleep, and then forced an involuntary dream.

A filly purple unicorn woke up in her own dream, as various objects and ponies began popping up. She mellowed out when the realization hit Twilight that this was the day of the entrance exam, when she was just filly. For a time, even though it was a dream, she was content and happy there. Away from reality that she learned to know, she bounced around a little as the memory started to play out exactly as she had remembered it. Looking upon on the egg, she proceeded to act out the memory. But then, time started to slow down as the room got fuzzy. Her parents got fuzzy, everything started looking dark, and the room started to melt as the dark magic of Nightmare moon seeped in. The memory flickered, then started to replay, but with a more twisted path.

Outside of the dream, Twilight's legs and body went stiff at first, but then started to thrash around loudly as various memories of hers got tampered with. Tears streaked out of her eyes as the night alicorn chose the memory that Twilight treasured the most: that of the entrance examination to Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. When the Sonic Rainboom cracked through the air, Twilight lost control of her magic. But instead of turning her parents into pots and making the four inspectors float in the air while making Spike a giant dragon, something else happened.

Twilight was floating in the air, her eyes glowing white as the room melted down around her. Something forced her to look in the directions of her parents, floating and struggling in the air with the purple aura holding them up. Raising her forehoofs, a sick crunch resounded around the room as her parents screamed in an indescribable cry as Twilight's father’s hindlegs slowly got ripped off while her mother looked on in terror.

She turned around and managed to say aloud, “TWILIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? YOU… Y... YOU M-M-MONSTER!” Twilight recoiled from this, and her mother added, “YOU AREN'T MY DAUGHTER ANYMORE!” But then, before anything could be said or done, blood splattered around the room as pieces of white coat and purple hair floated down. The blue stallion let out a tear as he turned his head away from Twilight; he too met same fate. The room then melted away before the rest of memory would play, where Princess Celestia came in and helped to put the little filly's raw magic under control.

Voices taunted Twilight about how weak she was, about how she killed her parents, over and over. Shaking all alone in that room is all she could do; then the room melted again. Sobbing, Twilight tried to tell herself the same thing over and over: This isn't real, this isn't real. However, this was a memory that was played out like a dream. It was real; it must have happened. NO, NO, NO! Twilight banged her head on the white wall, finally dropping and sobbing in her own dream. Her eyes blurred as she awoke from the illustrious nightmare, fighting with herself, wondering if she was still in her own memory or back in reality. She took a slow glance around the room: the wooden table, the stiff bed, and the wooden floor with door in front of her, slightly open. Slowly raising her head, her stomach churned for few moments before she vomited what little food she had eaten earlier. “I... I… killed my parents?” Holding her head with her forehoofs, she got into the fetal position and cried. She attempted to figure out if it was real: did she really kill her parents in that way, or was it just a twisted memory that Nightmare Moon implanted into her? Whimpering, she started to sob deeply.

Twilight didn't care anymore, not even about herself. Nightmare Moon cracked a laugh; she had broken the greatest magic user since Celestia herself. Satisfied, she teleported out of the room. Wrenching moments of silence passed; minutes became hours as she laid there crying.

After a few days, Nightmare Moon let her out of her shackles and the room for the first time. Twilight Sparkle's personality could barely be recognized: her looks had changed from their normal cleanliness, turning from a bright purple coat with a dark blue mane, where two pink stripes ran over her head, into a scarred Indigo unicorn, her eyes still purple but, where a very light gray shade took precedent, and her two pink stripes turned into black while her hair was very close to black, yet still shaded blue.

Slowly, she walked right behind Nightmare Moon, making sure to keep herself silent.

***

Looking around, Twilight slowly snapped back to reality. Slowly looking up at the window, she realized that she had had enough, enough of this. Balancing herself on all fours, she slowly walked toward the window. Tears finally streaked down her face as she considered it. The former Twilight Sparkle wouldn't have even consider it at all; she felt like she had finally lost all hope. Slowly taking steps, it got closer and closer. The hard bed that was getting smaller and smaller seemed like a distant object now.

As she was halfway there, she heard a noise.

Thanks to Doom Pie for proof-reading and edits once again!

Alternative Plan

“I bucking blame you!”

Twilight playfully punched Risk in stomach; he looks up bewildered. Rubbing his stomach with his free hoof, he pointed the other hoof at her, gesturing, “Why?” but it wasn't long before he got his answer.

“For getting me addicted to this.” Twilight deadpanned, taking a puff of her cigarette.

Risk chuckled as Twilight blew a breath of heavy smoke at his face. “You know, you could have just thrown away that very first one that you had about a week ago!” he threw his hoofs up for emphasis, “No excuses!” taking out about ten cigarettes, which Twilight promptly snatches it out of his hoof with her magic.

“Hmph!” The dark lavender unicorn trotted to her bed and started hiding the stash in her nightstand. As she turned her head, she suddenly collapsed, on the verge of a blackout. The room around her was spinning; slowly, she came back around. Realizing that a white hoof was holding her body, she quickly pushed it off. Hiding her blush, inside she felt happy. However, she was extremely afraid, so afraid of this emotion, knowing that it can be snatched so quickly.

“What's wrong? Hey, are you okay?” voiced the white pegasi with linger of concern and worry. Twilight's emotions took a full 180 as she dropped to her knees, and started to cry. “It's just...” Quickly before she could say anymore, Risk pulled her close; he understood, or so he thought. Petting her mane like he did the first time, “You're truly a strong mare, you fight in your own way to live. Hey, I know if it was me instead, I probably would’ve put it to an end a long time ago.” Those words were supposed to be encouragement; instead, it sent Twilight further in her despair because she was planning to put it to end before that fateful meeting. Sobbing even harder, she got up and slapped Risk in the face.

“DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING?” Twilight yelled, “I WAS.. I WAS, THAT WINDOW AT THAT NIGHT LOOKED SO GOOD TO ME. I WAS...was...”

Stumbling on the ground, Risk put his hoof over his mouth to prevent himself from saying anything more. Staring at Twilight, a single tear broke out of his right eye. The realization hit him hard; that’s why she was facing the window with that tear-streaked face. It played inside Risk's memory and froze, before his thought process broke down as he focused on a single expression.

“I am...” Softening his voice even more, “...Sorry”

Repeating this over and over, about five times before Twilight interrupted him. “Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you even here?! What am I to you?!” The lavender mare wanted answers, “Why?!”

Nerves all over his body started to fray, as he tried to calm himself down. “Truth be tol..djfke ugh” he stuttered, taking a deep breath in and out.

Twilight leaned slightly forward, trying to figure it out before more sharp voices finally replaced the nerve-whacked voice.

“Two...things.” He took last deep breath. “Two things...” Slowly the crimson eyes took a look, straight into the lavender's purple eyes as he began to explain himself. “I can't ever let anypony be exactly like me ever again. I hate myself, I hate life in general. I've...attempted…” There was a long pause as Risk comprised himself, on verge of breaking down. “…suicide so many times, I've dreamt about my parents or my family jeering me. They had no qualms to tell me that I'm a failure and that everypony would be happier if I was dead, or how I shouldn't exist. I couldn't help it. I HATE IT.” Risk huddled himself, sitting in a fetal position upright. Burying his face into hiding, he continued, before rudely being interrupted; not that he didn't mind, as he felt some warmth as he felt two hooves wrapping around him. Small courage started to bud inside of him, “When I saw you for first time, I recognized it as a new will to live. I mean...we may have taken different paths in life, but the result is all the same; look at where we are now.”

He didn’t dare to stop, because he felt this was the moment; unburying his face out of fetal position, while he was starting to look up to make eye contact, “There is also this feeling inside of me right now, I don't know if I hate it or like it. It's so fuzzy and it only happens when I'm near you. It's like...”

Twilight's eyes widened; her heart beating faster as she felt a warm sensation on her lips. Moaning a little as she experienced this for first time in her life, she felt like there was beautiful fireworks inside her. Many emotions zig-zagged before Risk broke off the kiss to explain himself further.

“You ask why, this is why I'm here. I feel like this when I am around you. I want to stand up and fight for you, take away your pain away daily. I want to grab you close and not let you go unless death himself comes to pry my hoof off you. For the first time in life, I have the will to live, and to die for somepony else.”

Silence took the reign in the room, only heavy breathing.

Silence, Risk never thought he would hate it until now.

“I bucked it up didn't I?” his voice in his head rang. Slowly getting out of fetal position, wrapping himself in the grey cloak that he stole about week ago. Slowly trotting toward the usual window to escape, but not before something pulled his cloak along with him back into floor. Shock was reeling inside of Risk's head as he saw Twilight on top of him.

“Uh...” but before any words could form, a dark blue mane trickled his face. He was looking straight into her eyes as she brought her head closer and closer, making him nervous, but soon that dispelled, as that warm sensation was shared. Risk could taste the cigarette smoke in her mouth. Slowly wrapping hooves around each other, pulling themselves as close as they could; they kissed. Risk started to play with her mane, stroking it as Twilight pulled off his cap with her magic, flicking it away as she pushed the white pegasi into floor near the window with the moonlight filtering through. It seemed so peaceful rather than something that the purple unicorn has come to hate.

The purple unicorn slowly climbed off Risk and she smiled weakly; a red blush was slashed across her face. “I'm afraid, so afraid, but I am so happy. Don't you dare die on me... ever.”

The white pegasi just lied on floor, having a hard time processing what just happened. One minute he thought he bucked it up, next minute it was turned around.

Nodding in confirmation, there wasn't a need of words for this moment anymore. Slowly getting up, his heart was running a thousand miles with a skip there and then. Turning over from his back, he shook the dirt off of his cloak before finally getting to his knees then hooves. Putting a hoof to his chin, he was trying to figur- ~plop. Looking up, a purple aura surrounding his black cap that was now back on his head; the aura slowly disappeared. Smiling at the purple aura, he swiftly pulled Twilight close for a hug before whispering “Thank you” before sharing a another kiss, yet this one was simple. Breaking off the kiss and hug, he began to trot backwards and tripped over an uneven section of the floor before promptly getting up embarrassed when his new lover giggled at him.

“Uh, so...” he quickly sprouted it off, “Seeyoulater!” as he climbed out the usual way.

As the white pegasi made it down to base of tower, the emotion that he held in finally climbed its way out. Flapping his wings to propel himself in air, he then did a little backflip- shouting “WOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo” as he flew off after he was sure nopony was nearby, with that purple head peered out the window, giggling as she heard a loud shout echoing throughout the air.

Climbing back inside, she dropped onto her flank. Her smile slowly turned to a frown; she was so happy that she gained something great. Something great that can be snatched away in an instant. Fiddling with her hoofs a little bit before remembering the stash that he gave her earlier with a heavy sigh, her horn glowed gently as she levitated one coffin nail. Swiftly placing it in her mouth, her horn flares into life again as the cigarette lit up.

“By the way, Twilight.” A white hoof started to reach over to grip the window frame.

Twilight's mane shot up, with a small scream, dropping her cigarette as she turned her head around quickly, her heart beating a million miles per second.

“Sorry, this is the second time now.” Risk added half-jokily mixed with sheepishly attitude. “I just wanted to tell you that I won't be coming back in here for few days. I'm working on something...I don't want to tell you what exactly it is for your own safety.”

Looking straight at Risk's eyes, this was unacceptable. She had to know!

“What is it?” She pressured. Risk started to climb back in, holding Twilight's shoulders with his hooves while taking up the most serious face he could muster. “Trust me, please? I promise that it won't get me killed or land me in a bad situation. It is for both of us.” A brief pause. “I promise.” he added again.

Twilight glared long and hard at Risk, figuring out what she was supposed to do. “After all he promised just now, maybe I could snap him out of this, but he is serious about this.” The purple unicorn's mind took a pause as she finally rationalized. “No! My resolve is important to him, this is precisely why he just chose to come back to tell me this straight out rather than leaving me in the dark.” With a heavy sigh, she locked her eyes on his.

“Go, do what you have to do. I...trust you. Just don't get killed...please!” She answered with a firm voice. Risk held his hoof to her face, and nodded while looking straight at her. “I promise on my life.”

***

Time seemed to go by so slowly for both of the lovers being apart like this; they longed for each other. Twilight's resolve still was hardened, but got weakened, as she began to worry if something did happen to Risk. It would mean the promise was broke and she would probably bend over and accept her fate, however it will be finally answered. She didn't just know it yet.

Snapping out of her own world as she heard a crack in the air, then the landing of hoofs, and then hoofsteps. Bracing herself heavily, she knew it was...her. So she proceeded to kneel and monologued, “Good evening my Queen”, she began to shake a little bit as Nightmare Moon didn't reply.

“COME MY FAITHFUL SLAVE!” Nightmare Moon suddenly shouted; Twilight twitched inside as she mocked Celestia's own words of “faithful student” that she used to call her. Slowly standing up, she began to walk behind her to not insult the dark queen. However, she noticed that in last few days she began to beat her less and less- she figured that she finally got bored with same target over and over, nevertheless she did not want to jump to conclusions yet. Quickly, Twilight looked around at her surroundings, which surprised her, because it was rare that she did, but what was more surprising; this was a new route and hallway. Slowly walking, Nightmare Moon's horn flared into life as massive door opened.

Noting that there was a massive audience of aristocratic ponies, noble stallions and gentle mares that came from rich or famous families. Stopping herself, the room was somewhat dark to accommodate Nightmare Moon's needs. Obsidian floor, walls and even the doors. Blue banners hung in even space, with Nightmare Moon's cutie mark engraved on it. In the distance, another massive door which led to where the outside was open. Black strips with blue decoration adorning it were rolled out and it ended at the dark throne.

Nightmare Moon turned up her voice. “THE COURT IS NOW IN SESSION. AS YOU KNOW, AS YOUR NEW RULER- I MUST REQUIRE ABSOLUTE LOYALTY FROM EVERYPONY. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL BE MET WITH SWIFT DEATH.” The court came into life and boomed with groans, moaning, grinding teeth. Only four ponies in the whole court remained silent. Those ponies were Nightmare Moon with smirking face which turned bitter and angry as the noise rose, Twilight Sparkle and two dark stoic guards whom were charged with guarding the entrance to the court.

Gracefully shifting herself to sit on her throne, once again turning up her voice but this time it was with screech. “QUIET! YOU FOALS! LET THE COURT COMMENCE!” Afterward, the court had atmosphere of heavy air when her subject finally lined up to greet the dark alicorn, their new ruler.

A couple of hours have passed, Twilight found it to be incredibly boring. As the royal ponies kept brown-nosing, fearful of losing their position- more importantly their life. One after another, the same procedure of kneeling and introducing themselves, followed by commenting something good about Nightmare Moon of how beautiful the night was, how great she looked, how wonderful the changes are. All was lies and the dark alicorn, even the dark lavender unicorn saw through it all. About a hundred ponies already went through their turns, and another one was walking up.

Twilight sighed, as a certain white nobly walked up with pompous attitude along with his father got on the knees and were starting announcing their position, status and their name. Nightmare Moon's face started to scowl, Twilight didn't care at all. Only thing that she took a notice was a name- Blueblood. As this was occurring, a loud thud echoed in the court, and then a second; the stoic guards flopped on the floor knocked out.

New black cloak adorned this pony as he walked quietly toward the queen, the court in absolute silence. Many thoughts were ringing around. Was it one of the rebellions, was it avenger? Some broke into cold sweat, as they turned their thoughts around- was it one of Nightmare's personal servants?

Only sound that came out in this court was quiet murmuring of the spectators and hoofsteps from this cloaked pony.

Blueblood began to shake in his place and started to shout, mindful of himself. Attempting to talk down a common pony as usual. “Who do you think you are? You lowly commoner. This is the royal court, you cannot just bur-” yet he didn't receive any reaction from mysterious pony whom was still walking toward Nightmare moon, working on displaying a non-threatening appearance best as possible. Becoming angrier as this cryptic pony finally stopped and was only next to him when a new couple of guards rushed out of the crowd; apparently they disguised themselves to mingle with the crowd better in case this type of event happened, and they surrounded the cloaked pony. Blueblood started to have a smug and victorious look as the event progressed a bit better for him. Slowly the cloaked pony paced himself, and then knelt in front of Nightmare Moon.

“Permission to speak, my Queen?”

Twilight's ears flopped then perked up as she recognized that voice, fighting herself internally very hard to not show any reaction.

“Before thou can speak, you must show yourself, foal!” The pony didn't hesitate as he slowly stood up but swiftly taking off his hood. Nightmare Moon's curiosity took the mantle in her mind as she examined this pegasi, his crimson eyes drawing her attention in. There was more to this pegasi than he let on; the dark alicorn waved it off as she proceeded to give it direct to the white pegasi.

“Choose your words carefully, thou apprehend that you will meet with swift death for you barged in here unannounced. Also, not to mention you took out those two guards.”

Mindful of himself, he took the cloak as symbol that he wouldn't hide himself anymore as he bowed his head. “My Queen, my name is Risk, and I will go straight to the point. I would like to will myself into your personal service.”

Nightmare Moon thought for moment, before proceeding. “I must ask the obvious question- why?”

Risk looked up and smiled, “Because I hated Celestia, my reason why is extensive. I want to will myself to destroy every fiber of her existence out of Equestria and I saw my opportunity when I saw my old friend, Twilight Sparkle in your service, so I thought why not do my part as well, my Majesty Nightmare Moon.” Risk was chuckling in his head that he was sprouting lies so fluidly; Twilight was thinking the same thing, but it was all for the best. As spectators of this turn of event gasped and started to chatter away, this was the first time that somepony would be willing to turn himself into her service.

“SILENCE!” The court turned silent when Nightmare Moon spoke up again. “If that is so, under my service I will not tolerate any disobedience or moment of weakness.” Slitted teal eyes slowly scanned the situation right in front of her, and finally taking a noticing of a pony next to him. She was annoyed with him. However, he was useful for what the dark alicorn had in her mind. Displaying an evil smirk, she slowly looked at Blueblood. “Risk, kill him.”

Not even a second have passed after he heard those words coming out of her mouth. Flapping his wings, he floated into the air, and then spun once to kick a sword out of one of dark guard's hoof. Swiftly picking it up off the ground, Blueblood tried to defend himself but his effort wasn't enough as the white pegasi kicked him in head then stabbed him straight in the heart, and pushed the sword downward, spilling his guts and blood into the floor and some sprayed into Risk's coat. Blueblood slowly collapsed into the ground, laying down on his side and his tears started to mix into his own blood as he took his last breath; his father shocked, then became furious. The son of his may be arrogant and spoiled but he loved him nevertheless, he began screaming while lunging at Risk but was only met by a swift slice of sword at his chest causing him to cringe in astronomical pain; alive but in pain.

“THIS COURT IS FINISHED!” the dark alicorn was somewhat taken back by the sudden action of this pony; she felt he was dangerous to the dark alicorn and her rule, yet he did what she commanded him to do with no hesitation. “Guards, clean this...mess up. I must retire.” With that, the dark alicorn started to walk, but not before acknowledging the pegasi. “Clean yourself up, thou will receive your role soon enough.” As that rang out, she deformed herself into her astral form and seeped through the walls.

Twilight panted heavily, because she could not believe what he just did to Blueblood. Slowly taking a step back, she turned around slowly, walking as she kept her resolve intact when Risk walked up and caught up with her, dragging his cloak on his back.

“Forgive me. I had to keep the promise of not getting killed.”

Twilight sighed; she got used to the cruel world that she came to understand under the rule of Nightmare Moon. “I forgive you, if that was what you were going for.” Twilight began to walk closer to him, “Don't leave me...”

“Which is why I did this today, for you. I can't just keep sneaking into castle almost every night which would eventually mean me getting caught, so I had to think of another alternative where I can be close to you with no suspicions from anypony. I am sorry also for not letting you in on this plan of mine, because I figured if you knew beforehand, you would’ve reacted differently. I was a bit afraid that alicorn would not buy what I was saying at all.” Risk explained himself.

Looking to diffuse the situation a little bit, humor was chosen. “You know, you look good in red. Goes well with your eyes.”

Risk wiped his face as he pulled her close to whisper in her ear, “I think I prefer white and purple mixed in.” Bursting out with laughter as Twilight gave one of the greatest reactions that Risk had ever seen from anypony. Twilight was glowing light red, all over her body, not just her face; she froze in place.

“Ugh, you..little- honestly.” Risk didn't notice that they made it to a huge bathroom- enough to fit about ten ponies and still be enough room for some more, the water in the “tub” was heated and the room was slightly heavy with steam.

The last thing he remembered before getting wet was a purple hoof hitting him in the shoulder before getting thrown into the water by a purple aura. As he submerged underwater, he felt at bliss.

Thanks to editor/proof-reader who want to be remain anonymous.

Working on chapter 6 now, hope you enjoyed chapter 5!

Brush of the Night and Death

Moonlight slowly seeped through the cracks of black curtain that was adorned with stars into dark obsidian room, changing directions as moon danced across the sky. A certain white pegasus was wrapped, sleeping like a baby on his own bed in his new room which was two floors below the personal bedroom of Nightmare Moon. The whole palace was quiet, as “morning” came to wake. Servants and likes was scurrying through the dark palace of Nightmare Moon, the chefs started cooking breakfast of varying quality- vegetable stew, bowl of warm oatmeal, milk, and various fruits on tray for the Queen while simple stew was made for soldiers, servants, and workers stationed throughout the castle. Twilight have already awoke to the smell of food, which usually came in the morning in form of simple greeting of servant holding a black tray at the door of her tower.

Sighing as she began to think back to the progression of event and the outcome that took place yesterday, him with his daring plan. Twilight couldn't believe that it had actually worked out for the best...for now. She finally gave into her hunger and ate. The stew tasted better than usual, unable to put hoof on why. It was probably because of him being near her. After few minutes of downing the usual morning nourishment, Twilight inched toward her bed, her stomach in knots as she feverishly hoped for good consequences today, because today is when Nightmare Moon will speak to Risk to give him a role/assignment. Sighing before realizing that her eye was twitching from being anxious. Screaming internally, still blaming Risk for getting her addicted to cigarettes but she wouldn't admit that she liked how cigarettes just calms her down.

After taking a long drag, she decided to come out with her habit by starting to carry a pack herself. Making a mental checklist to ask Risk where she could acquire some of her own so she don't have to ask him or wait for it, she stepped out of her tower. Smoke slowly trailing behind her as she climbed down the spiral staircase, she felt confident for some reason although she was troubled as she began her seemingly “long” journey to Risk's assigned room which was given by one of chief aides to Nightmare Moon after his bath last night.

Giving her walk a pause, she blushed as various images of Risk flashed across her head: his beautiful crimson eyes to white coat, white wings as well his gentle but strong muscles. Gasping as her memory jump-started as she started to remember various scars on his four legs, his chest and belly. Grimacing as she wondered where all of that would possibly come from, before mentally beating herself reminding herself about her own scars that was...given by her. Shuddering before smacking herself in face then taking a cigarette drag. Resuming her thought process on Risk, before a cold realization hit her like train. Risk doesn't have a cutie mark or does he? Twilight's memory just up and took a brief vacation as she tried arduously to think back if indeed there is one gracing those...flanks of his. Twilight blushed heavily, as she hasn’t gone that far with Risk in her mind, or real thing for that matter. Shaking her head, exhaling out the cigarette smoke slowly and heavily, trotting down the staircase once more before finally making down to main floor.

Stashing cigarette butt into her pack, using her magic to teleport it back into her room while keeping two cigarette by wedging in her right ear as she went past the servants dashing around doing their daily assignment. Squinting her eyes to see through dimmed hallway, slowly making out another staircase that connected to living quarters on the right where Risk's room is located. Stopping by a mirror, she gave herself a quick glance at her outward look, licking her hoof then patting her mane flat while her tail was little of mess but she didn't care much about it. Groaning as her one or two hairs mane spring defiantly from her mane, she pressed on. After climbing two floors worth of stairs, another dim hallway, then toward the door at end of hallway, she finally arrived at Risk's room. . Fidgeting with her hoofs for moment before knocking on door.

“Uh, hello?”

An infinite white room slowly faded into existence, there is no walls or outline anywhere as he wandered around. It felt like he didn't exist there, since the only thing that was visible was his red mane and crimson eye, he felt so hollow inside as he started to cry and run.

Running was the only thing he could muster.

Running in this infinite white space, he stopped to catch his breath. A black raven popped into this plane, ‘caws’, then began to fly away. Revelling in finding something new, he took off after it, chasing it, wondering if it knew a way out.

Cringing as the space began to dim as various voices of his past oozed in.

“Buck off you little foal, you killed your parents!”

“You should be dead.”

“Oh, you owe us a thousand bits and we're going to get it one way or another.”

“I don't love you, you're nothing.”

“Do us a favor and just begone.”

Slowly those voice merged into various laughter that seemed to mock his very soul, twisting it around as he stopped at those voice and cried. Gasping softly, but then he screamed as black fire went up and began to burn away the white space. Resigning himself to his fate, two small voice tuned in.

“I love you” they spoke simultaneously, one sounded masculinely deep while another was feminine. Panic set into him as he glanced at various direction at once- trying so hard to figure where those voices came from. A black raven flew next to him; a set of crimson followed it.

The black raven flew around, screeched as it grew exponentially to about ten times its size, diving toward him, band miraculously passing right through, with final scream. He was split in half from the screeching raven; blood poured from his body and mixed with black flames forming beneath him.

*
“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH”

Shooting out of his bed, trashing his sheet and pillow as he screamed in cold sweat. Quickly taking glances around his room, whimpering to only himself before a door burst open nearly breaking off its hinges as a purple unicorn ran towards him.

“What's the matter? What happened? Are you okay?” Twilight shot those words so quickly that Risk didn't register half of them in his mind as he shook in his bed. After few seconds, he finally registered that Twilight was right there with him. He took a firm grasp of Twilight's hoof with his own and pulled her close to bury his face into her chest, he felt like a foal for the first time in a while, as he began to cry.

“I'm sorry, let me be like this for little bit” he pleaded as he began to soak Twilight's coat from crying. Twilight merely smiled, stroking his mane happy with her hooves, happy that he could be this open with her. However, Risk gradually became content with himself as he felt warmth emitting from his lover. The dark lavender unicorn smiled, stroking Risk's head as she waged a internal battle inside her head in regards of his current state. “Uh...” she spoke up to get his attention as Risk shifted to get little more comfortable before replying, “mm?”

Sighing slowly, plucking two cigarettes out of her right ear, she offered one to him as she began to light up one of her own, gently pushing Risk off of her chest as she played with her hoof on his bed- building her courage.

“Want to talk about it?, you really gave me a jump when you screamed earlier...”

Risk frowned slightly as he placed his offered cigarette into his mouth, looking imploringly at unicorn, getting the message while her horn glows and the cigarette lights up. Shuffling with his hoof, fighting his own internal battle as he pondered on whether or not he should just spill it or keep it bottled up. After all, he went all of those years just fine...right? Rubbing his face with his hoof as he exhaled heavy smoke. “Thanks..” he gave himself a pause, taking out the freshly lit cigarette out of his mouth, “It’s just a nightmare..”

“Don't lie or avoid it please, I can see it plainly as..day that it is hurting you” Twilight countered, with caring voice.

Pulling Twilight in for another hug, “I don't want to talk about it...”, looking at Twilight's eye as she became visibly hurt before Risk adding in “for now. I promise that I will tell you about what I've been dreaming for few years now. I'm just...not ready”. The unicorn's face turned from indignation into a soft smile, that he will be willing to tell it to her however it would just take time was enough for her to know.

Smiling, not letting this to get into both of their way; he climbed out of his bed. “You better get ready, today is the day when you speak with Nightmare Moon, you know?”

Sound of hoof hitting a hard object resounded behind her, causing her to turn her head. She noticed a white hoof on an obsidian nightstand. “I've forgotten about that, thanks so much for reminding me, wouldn't want her to kill me,” nervously chuckling, he stepped out of his bed as well. Flipping his hat, swooned under it and made its landing on his head as Risk struck a pose.

“Show-off” the unicorn deadpanned but not before giggling as they exited the room. “Good luck...don't die.”

The white pegasus became crestfallen, her voice dripping with sarcasm “Yeah...if I do die. It would hopefully be painless in the least,” with which Twilight shot a look at Risk with mix of anguish, annoyance, and amusement. Risk turned up his pacing in the direction where courtroom is, after a light shove from Twilight as she turned around, making her trip back to her room.

Finishing up his cigarette, he rubbed the end of it to put it out as he tilted his cap into correct position as he gave himself a check-up best he could. Slowly walking, he stopped a servant on the way asking the stallion for time. Good, seems like this nightmare of his woke him at the right time, or was it Twilight? It matters a little as he is thirty minutes early to meet up with the Queen for her assignment. Pressing on, he trots over to the staircase walking past some painting of Canterlot and some was of a dark alicorn. Slowly, he noticed some outlines, barely visible of painting that used to hang in their place. It was probably cheerful pictures of Equestria, some of it would be probably be painting of Princess Celestia who is currently banished to her sun.

“WAIT!” Risk jumped at where he was; giving a quick look around the hallway he realized that that voice was followed by a flurried sound of running. Twilight gave herself a pause when she finally caught up to white pegasus; panting, holding her hoof. “Uh...Risk?

Answering imploringly “Yes?” as the white pegasus pivoted himself around to face in the direction where Twilight was standing.

“Uh...I just sorta...spontaneously recalled something when I took the trip to your room, uh where do you purchase those cigarettes? I don't want to..depend upon on you for purchases” Twilight gave a innocent smile, Risk couldn't help it as he decided to tease her.

“Nah..I prefer to not tell you, *snicker*. I want to see what you look like when you're having nicotine withdrawal” Risk instinctively took one or two steps backwards as he knew that reaction was inbound as Twilight stared at him, purple glow started to surround her horn as she picked up then flipped her target, floating upside-down in the air as she jokingly countered him.

“You know...if you don't tell me. I'll use my magic to make you stuck on ceiling; thus being unable to come down to make it on time for that meeting...hmm?”, Twilight had to try her best to contain herself of laughter while a fake panic was seeded inside white pegasus.

“NO, PLEASE! Anything but that! Leave the castle as normally you would do, walk about five blocks straight downhill, turn right then you will see a corner shop. That's where I frequent for those. The brand that we've been smoking is Djarum Blacks” as soon he gave up his “secret”, he fell about a foot out of air with dull thud; preceded by mischievous grin then a snicker from dark lavender unicorn.

“You know, Twilight, I'm planning on asking her to assign you next to me. After all I promised you that I would fight with you didn't I? Also I have verrrrry good reason to ask that, don't I?” Twilight and Risk started to giggle as they think back to what Risk said in royal courtroom last night. Gradually, the giggling transformed into something bigger.

The sound of two laughing ponies mended together in the air, then slowly died as the white pegasus leaned over to plant a kiss on Twilight's lips. Afterward he gave a brief hoof wave as they separated to go their way. He noticed something outside through a window, curiosity overtook him as he had still plenty of time before the meeting. The entire ordeal that took place just earlier lasted about five minutes, he thought it had taken longer than that.

Deciding to take a walk outside through the royal garden, he noticed a new variety of life growing in it- those that were dependent on the night. It was eerily quiet, as he cast his eyes far and near- for once he enjoyed this peaceful moment; it seemed so long as he felt grass tickling his hoofs as he paced through the garden. Mentally checking himself as he figured about fifteen minutes has passed, exhaling slowly, he took off toward the massive doors of royal court room. Trotting up to the doors, placing his hoof and used his strength to push one of door apart, silently walking into the dark royal court room which was illuminated by few torches. It felt cold inside, yet he couldn't sense anypony or anything inside as he walked up to throne.

Flicking his tail now and then, he sat tall and strong. Shifting uncomfortably as every minute until the meeting felt like hours; each, inside his head he could feel ticking of the clock going off. Torches began to flicker then dim, and the room felt cold for some reason. Naturally there was survival instinct of “fight or flight”, Risk chose “fight” rationalizing that this nightmare is worse than what Nightmare Moon would do to him; if it ever comes to that. Strangely, time slowed down to a crawl. Out of corner of his eye, noticing a blue mist moving through the room as it gathered together at the throne as finally jet-black body formed together. Her blue astral mane flowed like water, which left Risk awestruck for some reason, but refocused on the real task on hoof when booming, authoritative voice called directly to him.

“After I retired in last night court, I was the utmost displeased with your display of defiance when you burst into courtroom. I SHOULD KILL THOU HERE RIGHT THERE AND NOW”

Risk tensed up, looking straight at Nightmare Moon's slitted teal eyes out of fear. “Fight. Fight” rang around his head, managing to keep him holding out as the black alicorn continued her address. Nightmare Moon smirked for moment as she noticed his fear, it was natural to being Queen of eternal night! However she also noted that he stood his ground while giving her respect by keeping his eyes straight at me.

“What I've said hold true and I shall have no problem going through with it, but for what you did during your defiance by willing yourself into my service even surprised me. After debating with myself, I've decided to put you in charge of the pegasus battalion. It is largely due to your attitude of going straight in, knowing that there is high possibility of death.” Nightmare Moon ended her speech.

“Huh?! Uh, oh thank you my Queen. I don't mean to be rude but if you're putting me in charge of the pegasus battalion. Would it be out of line if I requested Twilight Sparkle to be my co-commander, with her leading the unicorns. Rest assured, my loyalty lies with you but I would love to be able to fight with her in the thick of battle. I wish to experiment the various combinations of...brutal onslaught methods that we could use on those...rebels” Risk spat out the last word in his reply with disgust.

“THOU ART PUSHING IT” the dark alicorn screeched, “You're pushing the line but I shall grant your request...for now. If the results aren't feasible, it is your life that you owe me. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT FOAL!” the room shook as the eternal night monarch used her Royal Canterlot Voice to get her intents across to him. Picking Risk with her astral magic to bring his face close to alicorn's own “REMEMBER.....THAT!” she growled.

“Y..es! Yes My Majesty!” Risk stuttered a little bit as his life was literally a plaything to her as long she held him in her astral magic.

Abruptly her astral magic flicked off and white pegasi just dropped into ground as Nightmare Moon shifted back to her astral and left the royal court room the same way as she came in. As when Risk was sure that he was alone, sighing long and hard as he lit up yet another one. Closing his eyes as strange feeling surged out of him, he stared at death's face and won every time. This recent encounter with Nightmare Moon was just another notch on his “wall”, chuckling dryly as he stood up and proceeded to exit the court room. Deciding upon on finding Twilight and tell her everything, and of her being new commander of unicorn battalion.

Snickering as he bounced in his walk, things were looking up a little bit for himself and her.

“Speaking of her, I have to go to her and give up good news”

Special thanks to MrMinimii for editing this chapter!

Fateful Meeting and Hope

“Ugh.”

A few hours had passed since the battle on the outskirts of Manehattan, and Risk was sitting silently in the main room of Koffee Kat. A bottle of cheap vodka lay sideways, coffee that was about two days old sat on the counter. In the ashtray sat a black clove cigarette, half-done, with smoke still rising from the ash. A white hoof hovered over the ash tray, picking up the cigarette, and then swiftly placed it into his mouth, taking a long drag. Light grey smoke rose into the air while some heavier smoke hovered around the lone figure.

“Am I crazy?” Risk looked up and walked over to the window to see his own reflection in it before continuing, “No, no… if I wasn't crazy, my nickname wouldn't be Risk, would it? How AM I supposed to meet her in the first place?!” Exhaling the last drag of his cigarette, he squinted his eyes at the window, watching his own eyes reflected back at him.

No regrets.
Sorry, Affogato. Seems like I couldn’t take care of the place as promised. But I will leave it in pristine condition.

Smiling internally, he backed away from the window. He spent about four hours cleaning his own mess, organizing stocks – whatever was left of it – and letting in fresh air to get rid of cigarette smell. He cleaned dishes and cups until they were spotless. Before he was done, one last touch was put in place, security-wise. He managed to find some metal sheets; apparently Affogato had stocked up on them in case he went off on a long vacation or something. Hauling it out of the other stockroom, he started to nail it up before noticing it was inscribed with magic symbols, followed by a few names; he saw his own and wondered why his was on it, but he had a hunch.

Walking up to the counter, he picked up a knife and threw it toward one of the metal sheets. A strange shield just appeared and deflected the knife like it was non-existent. Putting one and one together, he figured it would manifest a magic spell that would rid the place of would-be robbers, or anyone who didn’t have business at this place, while accepting anyone who had their name white-listed.

How convenient...

Finishing up putting up those sheets to cover every window and door, he carried the last metal sheet outside before making a round trip to pick up his black gatsby cap, his crumbling pack of coffin nails and his last cup of java. Grunting, he put up the last sheet, setting it up at the main entrance of Koffee Kat. Backing up slowly, he looked up at the sign, muttering to himself, “Thank you Affogato.”

He spread his wings, giving them a few flaps as he secured his cargo. He ran lightly until he arrived at the corner of the street. Flapping more, he lifted himself off the ground, leaving behind that place that he came to know in the past year, silently lifting himself up higher and higher. Eventually he ended up flying above the clouds. As he flew above them, an outline of his shadow pinged off of the clouds, with the moon illuminating them, as well as most of Equestria – that he could see with his eyes, at least. The lights of the city flickered in the distance; he’d never been there before, but knew what it was.

As it got closer and closer, what was initially nothing more than black blob with a few bright spots prodding out of it became the mighty black outline of a city dotted sparsely with lights. White buildings and towers appeared as he flew toward it; it clinged to the side of the mountain next to a coercive waterfall, which fed the stream and wells of the magnificent city. Landing at the entrance of Canterlot, he snorted, placing his hoof in front of him while folding his wings.
I'm not here to admire the sights, he thought, mentally checking himself. Breathing became slightly harder for Risk, as he knew that the mare was in this capital of Equestria. Taking a deep breath, he took out his nicotine sticks, lighting one up like usual and taking a long drag off it.

He trotted for a little bit before finding a bench a few yards away from the gated access of Canterlot, and he began to formulate a plan when he saw a noble pony passing by. He clearing his throat and said, “Excuse me, my good sir. Could you take a moment of your time to gesture me towards the castle of our Queen Nightmare Moon?” Risk had to act the part of the city; however, the noble pony took a step back as if he couldn't believe this pegasus.

All of us are trying to go and move out away from that dreaded alicorn - yet he wants to go toward where she resides?! He must be mad – crazy, even!

Little did the noble pony know, it was in fact the truth. The gentlepony composed himself; he didn't want to give away the fear that would be in his voice, so he simply picked up his hoof and pointed it in the general direction of the castle; then, when he was sure Risk was following, he raised his hoof even higher. It pointed at the highest point of Canterlot, a huge outline of the castle. His ears perked up as he heard a “thank you” from Risk, who had started to trot toward the castle.

In the distance, the gentlepony held his hat to his chest. “Good luck” was all he could say as he turned and went off in direction he originally was heading in. As he was only one block away, Risk looked around and noticed that there were only a few guards standing at the primary and secondary entrances of the castle; apparently Nightmare Moon was expanding her available military might all across Equestria so that she could stay in the power. The land was dark, due to eternal night. He quickly assessed the problem and facehoofed – he was white-coated, and that was very easily noticeable in the dark. At least he caught the problem beforehoof. After few minutes, there was knocked out earth pony in a dark alley of Canterlot. The only thing stolen was what Risk now wore – a grey cloak. It suited the situation just fine, though he felt a little sorry for the victim.

After that was done with, he sat in the reasonable distance from the castle while avoiding the peering eyes of guards and of would-be passersby by hiding himself in dark corner, under a broken street light. He carefully took mental notes, ignoring everything but that purple mare. Risk decided to take a break for a moment by looking up at the moon, half of which was obstructed by the tallest tower of the castle, when something caught his eye: a dark pony outline in the biggest window, looking at same thing as Risk.

He glued his eyes to the window, debating whether or not it could be what he thought it was. He repeated what he said to himself a few hours ago at the coffee shop pertaining to his nickname. He walked all the way around behind the castle, slowly flapping his wings so that they wouldn't make much noise, steadily climbing foot by foot until he got to the top of the concrete wall. He then manipulated his wings so that he simply glided through the air, creating no sound. He arrived at the base of the tall tower, concealed in the darkness. Silence and being unseen were his main goals, for if he were to be caught, death would be inevitable. He decided against simply flying straight up, as he figured that brought more chances of being detected.

Slowly he rose, grabbing some bricks that were sticking out and pulling himself up. He forced his hind legs to do all the work as his forehoofs guided the way – the way Risk figured is that if he fell, he had his flying ability to save him. One brick and another, he ascended the tower. When he was three-fourths the way there, he nearly slipped, but with his reflexes he flapped his wings, righting himself and gripping the bricks harder. Hastily folding his wing, he froze there. He exhaled slowly, calming down his high heart rate while listening carefully for any sign that he attracted some attention; however, the only sound that radiated was the chirping of a cricket, along with something else: a sobbing that came from above. It was heart-wrenching to listen to but it only served to reinforce his resolve.

He started to climb again, this time moving sideways to the right, inching over slowly. Panting – out of breath due to his smoking habit – he murmured to himself, “Here I go,” and heaved himself up, gripping the bottom frame of the window while balancing himself in the air by flapping his wings – and finally, he made it. The first sight that met him was a tear-streaked purple mare, holding her left forehoof in such a position that it seemed like she was heading towards the window.

The purple mare came out of her stupor, watching the white pegasus climbing through her window. Before Risk could do anything or say a word, her horn flared to life, wrapping the pegasus in a purple aura that slammed him against the wall next to the window before throwing a barrage of questions at him.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?! Who do you work for? Are you here to kill me?!” She continued to step closer and closer to the pegasus flailing a little on the wall. Risk choked as he could feel the magic around his neck tightening slowly, throwing up his head up as he held his forehoof to his neck.

Taking a deep breath, he picked up his hindlegs and somehow managing to connect a kick to the purple mare's face, causing her to lose concentration. Without the magic levitating him in the air, he instantly dropped down on his flank. He stared at the purple unicorn fumbling around, while panting like crazy, his heart beating, his thinking process out of whack. So he dropped a line without thinking, with weary coughs before shouting as he slumped on the ground.

The room echoed with the words, “I HATE YOUR EYES!”

Resorting to his cigarette to keep his nerve from skyrocketing anymore, he accepted whatever would come after this.
Rubbing her cheek where the kick was aimed at, her head rang before the words that the white pegasus had said finally registered in her head. Staying as far away from him as possible as she wasn't sure of his true intention, moments passed, and there was a heavy atmosphere looming between two ponies who were strangers to each other.

What broke the silence between them was the purple mare asking the obvious question:

“…what do you mean?”

Bending over, massaging his neck as the pain gradually went away, the white pegasus replied,

“You deserve half of the full story. After all, I did break in and scare the buck out of you.” He weakly laughed as he repeated the conversation between them.

“I meant what I said: I hate your eyes. Not you, your eyes. Because of when I first saw them, back in Manehattan. At the outskirts.”

As the purple mare's face became wrenched, she remembered that scene, as it only happened about day ago now, and slowly looked down at the floor. Somewhere in heart, she knew what would be said in the end.

“I hate them so much because when I saw those eyes of yours, they seemed... dead. I hate them so much because I was exactly like that.”

Looking up, she wondered what he really meant by that.

Risk seemed to get the hint from her reaction alone.

“I don't… want to talk about it in much detail now. Long story short: I'm an orphan, it seems. My parents died when I was young and I don't recall much about them."

“My family hated me. They just cast me out because I was different; apparently, being a blank flank didn't help much, either.”

The white pegasus looked up and made eye contact with the purple unicorn as he kept speaking. Twilight realized what he meant with his crimson eyes: they seemed so deep…

She wandered around inside her mind before coming back around, and kept listening.

“I wandered around all of Equestria, from town to town. In a grueling process, I had to learn right from wrong, but even still... I was stuck in limbo. So, I had to resort to... ‘activities’ that landed me in hot water many times… I even had to extinguish someponies' life to defend myself.” He still didn’t get into details, but instead he just simply gestured to all of his body scars on display. Risk felt like he was on the verge of another round of crying. He exhaled slowly as he took another drag of his cigarette.

“Eventually, I gradually withered into a state that I like to call ‘living dead’. That's what I saw…”

The purple unicorn had misty eyes; she held it back as long she could. But finally, she broke down crying on the ground, with tears that came straight from her heart.

“...in your eyes.”

As the crying filled up the room, Risk wasn't sure what he should do. After all, this sort of situation had never happened to him before; it seemed so crazy that he would even risk his life to come here in the first place, just for this purple mare. He shook his head to halt his mental discussion as he gaited toward the purple mare, once again sitting on his flank against the bed that was in the middle the room. Slowly, he reached over with his right forehoof, holding his cigarette with his left, then paused, scared of what would happen if he touched this mare. Nevertheless, he started to pat her back. However, what was unexpected was that after a few seconds of this gesture, the unicorn picked herself up slowly to move over to the stranger and wrapped her forehoofs around Risk and just kept crying, making his hindlegs and coat wet.

Sitting there silently, he patted her head.

Slowly, the tears died out.

The only thing left was the occasional sob, along with a sneeze, when the purple mare asked,
while pointing at the thing hanging out of white pegasus’ mouth,

“What is that?!”

“Cigarette... want one?”

Shuffling through his pocket, he produced a pack of coffin nails.

Twilight held a hoof to her muzzle, covering her nose up. “I don't think...” Her voice deadpanned. “Aw, buck, why not.” She took one cigarette out of the pack, taking the offered lighter as Risk took out yet another for himself.

*cough cough*

“This is awful! Why are you even smoking this?!”

“Keeps my nerves calm. Wait until it kicks into your system,” Risk chuckled.

After a few moments of silence, as they were about to finish up their smokes, Twilight began to raise her head and was about to speak before Risk stopped her by holding his forehoof to her mouth.

“Don't say anything unless you are absolutely sure.” He knew the feeling himself; after all, he just went through it earlier, when he told some of his sob story to the mare. Twilight nodded, as she laid her head on her hindlegs and began recounting her story. She left out some details as well; she figured she would tell more someday if, this pegasus ever came back.

Starting at beginning, she told Risk of the battle of the elements, and how she was the personal student to Celestia before the Princess was banished to the sun by Nightmare Moon. When she got to the point where all of the abuse haf happened to her, she just simplified it. She detailed some of her experiences of the fighting on the battlefield and killing somepony for the first time. The crying started again as the memory began to resurface within her mind while she told her sob story to the white pegasus.

“…and I even think I killed my parents. I mean…” She groaned in frustration.
“I DON'T KNOW what’s real and what isn't. I mean, argh, it is my memory…”

Twilight finally got quiet. Apparently, this was the “now” that she had arrived at.

Risk just stroked her mane, rather than patting her head like before. Magic was something foreign to him, but he’d have to learn sometime soon. A idea popped into his head, but he decided against saying it aloud. He finally looked up from the side of the bed, and the moon was in a different position – a sign that an hour or two had passed, though it was still “night” time.

He silently took out a few cigarettes from the pack, laying it down on her bed above him. Grabbing the grey cloak that was next to him, he looked up at the purple mare.

“I have to go, otherwise...”

The unicorn mare just nodded, knowing what he meant. Nightmare Moon. He geared up again and trotted to the window, then turned around after climbing out, hanging onto the window frame. He smiled softly at the purple mare who seemed bewildered by this turn of behavior.

“Risk.”

Twilight cocked her head, when realization hit her.

“Twilight Sparkle. And...”

Both strangers finally had names to call each other, and were now friends. Her purple forehoof wiped both of her cheeks, and a very faint smile appeared on her face.

“…thank you.”

With that, he gently waved a “see you later” gesture, rather than a “good-bye”, before climbing down the same way he came in when he first broke in. Twilight took a gander out the window; she couldn't see Risk anymore, but still could hear the noise that Risk was making from the base of the tower. Ostensibly, the gray cloak that had covered him was doing its job well.

Two days later, as Twilight slept, a white hoof reached over and pinned something into the wooden window frame, then vanished. When she eventually woke up, she observed the white object in the distance from her bed, and her curiosity got the best of her. Slowly walking up to the object, she used her magic to unpin it and stared at it. Twilight cried again, but this time it was with joy, before she flared her horn to life after looking at it for a very long time.

Purple flame burst to life on that object, and then finally, it turned to ashes.

The memory was implanted in her mind forever, somewhere Nightmare Moon couldn’t ever get to. It was the picture of a white mare with a purple- and white-streaked mane with blue stallion walking next to her, right at the door of their home as they exited. Twilight noticed that it wasn't on ground level; it was from an overhead angle.

There was small writing on bottom-right corner that read, They're alive.

Special thanks to Doom_Pie once again for proof-reading and being my editor!