//------------------------------// // A Christmas Reunion, Part 4 // Story: My little Short Stories // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// A Christmas Reunion, Part 4 "Argh, Stupid snow!" The Stallion snorted, as the wind and blistering cold tore at him. "Stupid Dream Valley! Stupid Bow Tie! Why did I even come back to this blasted place!" Nightshade trotted along in anger, trying not to think about the place he had left behind him, and trying not to think about the mare he had left behind a long time ago. Back there, she was enjoying a night of unwrapping presents and singing carols with her family. Back there, ponies were feasting and making merry over the punch, and enjoying the warmth of the great fires on the hearth. While he was out here, slowly trotting his way back towards Bright Valley. "Dumb Shadowettes!" He growled, cursing his band. "If they had wanted to head back tonight, we could all be riding home in our nice warm tour bus right now! But noooooo! They had to stay over in Dream Castle for Christmas!" As he continued to trudge onward, visions came to the guilt ridden stallion- visions of a life that he could have had, a life that would never be his... He saw a church, all decked out in white.... a lovely blue bride, and a dashing groom. As the two stood there, here could tell how very much they were in love. "Bow Tie, do you take this stallion to be your lawful wedded husband?" "I do" "Nightshade, do you take this mare to be your lawful wedded wife?" "I do." The couple kissed, and the snows shifted the vision forward. Nightshade then gazed upon the mare and the stallion in a Bright Valley hospital room, the mare lying in bed in pain, and the stallion standing over her in concern. Even as the female pony screamed in agony, her mate held her hoof tightly. "Push, Bow tie, Push! You can do it!" "I'm trying, Night, I'm trying!" There was a scream from the mother, and the cry of a newborn foal as the scene shifted again. As the blizzard parted a final time, Nightshade gazed upon the couple many years later, seated by a Christmas tree with two little colts, "Here, son! Open up this package!" "Ohhh, wow! A new pony polo ball! You're the best, dad!" As father and sun hugged, the stallion cried out in his agony- unable to take the visions any longer. "WHY!?! Why are you torturing me like this!?!" The stallion wailed, screaming towards the heavens. "I know I messed up, why do you torment me with what could have been?!?" The wind only howled in response, and the Stallion fell to his knees. "I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry I caused so much pain to ponies who cared about me." Nightshade wept, the tears freezing as they rolled down his face. "I am so terribly sorry I betrayed her! Great Horsemaster, give me another chance! PLEASE give me another chance!" The roaring snows engulfed the once-proud pony, blinding him. But just as it seemed the howling winds were going to tear him apart, the mighty walls of white melted away into a gentle snowfall. Off in the distance, the bruised and beaten pony swore he could hear a voice calling out to him. "Nightshade! Nightshade! Are you there?" A white mare with a purple mane came out of the darkness, carrying a lantern in her mouth, and two blankets on her back. "Oh, Nightshade, there you are! I was afraid you had frozen to death out here!" She threw a blanket over the nearly-frozen stallion's back. "T-thank you miss." He replied, shivering bitterly. "B-but who are you?" "Oh, my name's Scoops. I run the Satin Slipper ice cream shop." The mare replied, as Nightshade noticed the icecream cutie mark on her flank. "I saw you leaving the castle when I was closing up for the night, and I followed your trail though after the storm started." "I-I really do appreciate it." His teeth chattered, as he looked away from the pony who had saved his life. "B-but why'd you come all this way to save me? I don't really deserved to be saved by anyone." "I-I wanted to get you back to the castle, for when the Christmas giant brings our presents before the stroke of midnight." Scoops smiled, recalling the old pony legend. "You know how he's supposed to travel around with the land of Christmas on his back, aided by his pony... friend...Felicidades..." She trailed off, as the stallion glared at her. "What's the real reason you came after me miss Scoops?" He snorted, narrowing his eyes. "Why would you risk our life to save the wretched pony who almost condemned Bright Valley to destruction?" "B-beacuase every pony deserves a second chance." The mare exclaimed, smiling at Nightshade with a warm smile that the stallion had not seen since he had Betrayed Bow Tie. "And no pony- no one- deserves to freeze to Death on Christmas day!" Looking back up into the mare's eyes, Nightshade saw a tender mercy and a compassion, that no one had afforded him since his betrayal of everything he had loved. Even after he had redeemed himself, every mare and stallion had looked upon him with either contempt and scorn, or at the least a bitter indifference. Here was a pony offering him even the slightest ounce of Friendship, as if in answer to his plea. And for the first time since he had helped steal his first shadow, the singer was filled with a warmth as great as the mightiest roaring yule fire. "Thank you very much, Miss Scoops." The smiling stallion replied gratefully. "I'll be more that happy to accompany you back to Dream Castle." And as the two ponies trotted back together, Nightshade saw his second chance in that warm face that occasionally glanced over at him. And the Stallion right then and there vowed to never again make the foolish mistakes that led to his near destruction the first time. "Nightshade, look!" Scoops exclaimed, pointing a hoof. "They've lit the castle for Christmas!" And up ahead, the two ponies could see the castle and the surrounding trees lit up, in a vibrant sea of blue and green. And as they trotted down the hill, the once-condemned Nightshade was filled by the beauty and warmth and beauty of the Christmas spirit.