Nocturne of Shadows

I laid there for a few minutes before I heard someone come down the stairs. “Oh... Hey you’re up.” Oh great it’s.... Who is that!? The person, a guy by the sound of it, yawned and walked towards the kitchen. “You want anything!?”

My stomach grumbled and I nodded. “Sure. What ya got?” I raised a hand and pointed towards his direction. “And who are you? Twilight’s boyfriend?”

He choked on something before speaking up horrified. “No! Oh Celestia no! I’m her assistant, Spike. She practically raised me.”

I raised an eyebrow underneath the book. “Huh. So....” I lifted up the book a little and stared at him. “... You look like Barney.”

“What?” He tilted his head. “What’s a ‘Barney?’”

“The thing of nightmares.” I replied immediately before waving a hand. “No offence.”

He shrugged. “Okay...” Walking back into the kitchen he spoke again. “And we have eggs, hay bacon, gems, and some various ingredients. Just to answer your question.”

I waved a hand. “Eggs would be nice... And I’m sorry about the door, well, at least you got rid of the crystals....”

        “Oh you made those? Those were so good!”

        I blinked. “Wait what?” Confuzzling intensifies.....

        “Dragons eat gems. They’re really good!” I heard the stove begin heating up as he continued. “Each color has a different flavor, clear ones are tasteless, but the darker it is the better.”

        “That’s really cool sounding.” I kept reading. “But what were the one’s I made like?”

        “The crystals around the door were really rich, it filled me up rather quickly. So I decided to save a couple.” Gratitude was clearly heard in his voice although he tried to hide it. “Thank you... I guess.” There was a knock at the door and I dropped my book on my head as Spike yelled out. “IT’S A PUBLIC LIBRARY! JUST WALK IN FOR CELESTIA’S SAKE!”

        I calmly lifted the book over my head and peered into the kitchen. “Yes. But it’s like 10 in the morning. So I doubt the sign is flipped.” I set the book down and rolled off of the couch and onto the floor. “Ow.”

        “Um.... what the fuck?” I pushed myself up a little and turned towards the door, looking at the man in a black cloak and light armor. Huh....

        I waved a little. “Hi.” I leaned back and grabbed my sword. “Don’t mind me. Just woke up a little while ago.”

        He raised a hand and started to point dumbly at me. “How the fuck did you do that?” He reached up and started to remove the hood of his cloak. “No seriously, how? I’ve been wanting to look normal since this whole clusterfuck of dimensions and shit started.” That’s really white hair....

        I motioned to the sword. “Take thingy given.” I dropped it and my normal clothes returned. “Remove, and the armor goes away.”

        His eyes twitched before he pulled off a perfect rage face. “FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!” I raised an eyebrow as he started banging his head on the ground. “GOD! DAMN! IT! JUST! GOD! DAMN! IT!”

        “And this rage is brought upon by..?” I looked at over him and saw an eye in his hand as he raised it for me to see. “Ah. Hmm.... Try... Try focusing on getting rid of the armor. Just imagine having it go away.”

        “I’ve been trying that for two days now.... Why does everything hate or fear me today? Just why?” Did he just growl at the floor?

        “What is going on down there?” I looked over to the stairs and saw Twilight rubbing her face. She immediately spotted our mystery guest and facehoofed. “Great.... another one.”

        “O hai Twi.” I waved a little. “I forgot to mention, but sorry for the rock candy around the door.”

        “I nearly shredded myself on those earlier. If they’re your fault, could you please fix the little bits of sharp rock that are out there?” Mystery man said before faceplanting. “Ignore me please. I wish to stew in my misery.” He started to roll off to the side and just laid on the ground facing the wall.

        I stood up and walked over to the door. “What? I thought Barney Jr...” I trailed off at the black crystals higher than three feet. “Oh.” I placed my hand on one and closed my eyes, slowly converging them into a single crystal. “Hello headache, I thought you forgot about me.” I noticed a small shine in the road before going back inside. I plopped down on the couch as the Spike came back out with eggs. I grabbed the small plate and nodded in thanks, eating a little and feeling my headache fade.

        I wasn’t paying attention to the things around me, but looking up I saw mystery man talking with Sparkle. “-ho aren’t scared shitless of me.” He grabbed the side of his head. “Do you by chance have any aspirin?”

        I looked down at the remaining half plate of eggs and passed it to him. “Here. You’re suffering some drain in stamina. Food helps.”

        He took the plate and looked at the eggs before taking a piece and eating it. His eyes dilated and he seemed frozen for a moment before I heard him speak. “Sweet Jesus, these are delicious....” He fucking devoured those eggs like how that priest from Indiana Jones 2 rips out hearts. “Mmmmmm....... So good.”

        I grinned a little. “Hungry much?”

He pointed at me with a glare and slight smile. “Hey, I’ve only had one meal in the last two days. Cut a guy some slack.” He handed to plate to Spike and held out a hand. “Name’s Zach.”

I shook it and nodded. “Aleister.” I let go and sat down. “Don’t mind the name...”

He just shrugged and sat down next to me. “Why would I? Sounds pretty cool.”

        I smiled. “Trust me... My parents thought it would be funny to name me that, wanna know why?”

Zach leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “Sure, let’s hear it.”

“To, and I quote, “Strike fear into Christians by letting them know I was named after Aleister Crowley, the satanist.” My parents were kinda fucking retarded.”

He just stared at me for a bit before busting a gut. “Ooooohohohohoho god, my sides! Dude, I’m a Christian!”

I nodded a little. “Alright. I’m hindu. We’re just a melting pot of religion aren’t we?”

 “Oh... at least your name is actually you name. I keep getting Jack Frost jokes thrown at me cause my favorite season was winter.” He looked up at his hair and sighed. “And now my hair matches. Go figure.”

I shook my head a little. “I got called a water elemental all throughout my school. Mainly cause I love rain.” I looked down at the ground. “And we have different opinions on favorite seasons... Meh, not like we’re arguing.”

Zach grinned like an idiot. “Everyone to their own and all that jazz.” He looked over to Twilight and grinned sheepishly. “And I just realized that I haven’t asked for your name or the little guy’s.”

“My name is Twilight Sparkle, and this is my assistant Spike.” They shook politely and Twilight had a small frown as she sighed. “You are a lot nicer than the last few of your kind that I’ve met.”

He looked over at her with an arched eyebrow. “Come again? Last few?” Zach pointed over at me. “As in, more than just this guy and me?”

I waved a little. “Well. There was this one guy. I apparently owe him money cause I didn’t die.”

He scrunched his face in confusion. “But...wha? How does...?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Tits.”

He looked at Sparkle. “Aaaanyways. It’s been a pleasure meeting you Miss Sparkle, but I must ask you something important in regards to my situation before I leave.”

“Is it where the leprechaun's gold is hidden? Cause I’ve been looking for years.”

He looked at me deadpan. “No, it’s not. I’m being serious.” He turned back to Sparkle. “Could you.... tell me what you know about Wendigos?”

You mean those hate eating cannibals who enjoy winter? If so, then I can tell you quite little. I stood up and walked over to the wall, grabbing a book and reading it. Occasionally eating small bits of the rock candy in my han- That’s not rock candy.

“This is not rock candy.”

I looked at the crystal for a little bit before looking at my sword across the room. I shouldn’t have powers.... But.... How...? Maybe it’s a residual effect. So... Does that mean I can...?

I popped the rest of the crystal in my mouth and started chewing. OH GOD IT’S LIKE I HAD FIVE MUGS OF TOBASCO AT ONCE! Not bad.... I broke out into a smile as I swallowed. “That was delicious.” I walked over to another book shelf and sat down away from everyone, pausing only to cough up fire. I shit you not. Real. Fucking. Fire. I wiped my mouth a little and fell backwards. “Ow.”

I so wish that I could... Huh what’s that? I see a button. Reaching my hand out I pressed it and fell down a trap door. After groaning in pain I raised a hand. “I hate you to gravity.” I sighed deeply and brought the book up to my face. “Time to read.”

“Before the three pony tribes lived in harmony, there was much conflict between them. The Pegasi were great in their military strength and had total control over the weather, often using them as leverage against the other two tribes. The Unicorns, with their magic and knowledge, Were considered to be the nobility amongst the tribes. They would use their magic to control the sun and moon, and ruled over the lands they held through greed and tyranny. The Earth ponies may not have had the magic or flight of the other tribes, but they held onto an equally powerful piece of the old society. Food. They were almost the sole source of food at the time, and would not part with it easily.

This caused arguments between the tribe leaders to arise, They argued and grew to hate one another. The Earth ponies accused of hoarding the food, the Pegasi blamed for sending storms at the capitals, and the Unicorns framed for burning the earth with the suns rays. Their hatred for one another only grew as time passed. Then one day, the weather began to get colder, and colder. Eventually it got too cold for anypony to remain in the northern lands.

The cause of this was that the hatred that the leaders of the tribes shared for one another, had attracted The Wendigos. Spirits that feed off of hatred, born of wind and ice. They had grown powerful enough to lay waste to an entire continent from the hatred of the leaders and their ponies. This cold wrath, lead the leaders of the three tribes to all come to the same decision on their own. They and a single aid, would travel out and find a new place to call home.

The three leaders and their companions all left the now frozen north, and headed to the south. There they found what is now Equestria, and claimed the land for their own. When the leaders found that the others had done the same as themselves, their hatred grew once more.

They were soon found by the Wendigos, and frozen into a cave. The companions of the leaders were the only ones to remain unfrozen, while the leaders were now encased in ice just like their frozen hearts. In what they were sure would have been their last moments alive, the companions of the leaders forged a friendship that’s flame not only melted away the ice from the cave, but freed the leader’s hearts of the ice that encased them.

The Wendigos vanished soon after. The only writings that are linked or reference the Wendigos are thousands of years old. Dating back to when the Crystal Empire vanished from the face of Equestria. Some believe that the Crystal Empire is where the original home of the three tribes is located, but discernible proof has yet to be found to support the claims.”

“Hmmm....” By jove a cracked the case! Wait.... What case? Eh screw it. Oh hey a gold coin.... Wait.... GOLD! I grabbed it and stuck it in my pocket. “I’ve struck gold!” I did a little dance and waved the coin around. “Goldy goldy gold.” I looked around and saw that there was more gold... Raining around me... What? I looked up and saw that when the floor opened up an old chest broke open and was pouring coins.

“I STRUCK IT RICH!”