//------------------------------// // Shivering Cold of Deep Thoughts and Terrible Memories. // Story: Lizard King: Tyrant // by Mick0339 //------------------------------// I really do hate water. The drink, it's great. And for baths of course, but for pranks...no. I uh, well I sneezed non-stop after that. The girls kept on snickering the whole time while I rolled me eyes. They call it a prank, I call it animal cruelty. Anyway, I've been managing to find some interesting things to read. Reading? Well, I happen to appreciate it, plus the history is very similar to ours in some ways. Or at least, one such story I found. I actually had a heartbeat fall at it. It was truly saddening. It actually reminds me of many people in my world. Siblings are there to love, but also loathe and envy. It's funny, your family is like that sometimes. To live up to your parents' expectations, try not to live in the shadow of your siblings. I feel bad for master actually. I've felt the same way as she did. It said in the book that in jealousy and anger of being in the shadow of her sister she became a monster. Now I doubt she was any scary-looking monster, but maybe a mentally evil monster perhaps. I'm guessing magic. Either way, it really is in parallel, how our two worlds work. Nations divide up continents and different views make up those nations, although there are only humans on earth, not talking zebras, minotaurs, griffons and the such. Heck, hydras were only in myth, same with unicorns and pegasi. This whole world seems like our mythical reality. God damned phoenix, I'll win this time. I slammed my head into the tree trying to force the flaming bird down. I could see her laughing and flailing her wings about. She's just lucky I'm not really into eating living creatures. Plus, it seems I don't really need to considering what master does for me. "It's funny when they fight." I slowly turned my massive head to look at them. I suppose in their eyes I look menacing, but well, I was just tired when I gave them that dead look. I simply groaned as I saw both of them laugh at my deadpan. "I think he's still angry at me." Luna giggled, to which I visibly groaned and then slowly sat down, letting the firebird land on my back for a resting spot. She does so without permission either way. Luna saw my slight frustration and thankfully she did. "Sister, I think he dislikes being teased like that so much." "I'm sorry, but he did just let us do it." Well, to be frank, I did, but like I said I prefer not to attack and/or eat living creatures. Although, I figured they knew I was reptilian in nature. Ponies, they really are like humans, very little hindsight thought. At least I didn't die. It was Luna's domain as I sat under the tree, letting the moonlight illuminate the book. By all accounts, it was a children's book with drawings depicting Nightmare Moon. I saddened as I saw the ponies fleeing in the book from the big, bad monster. The monster stood on four clawed hooves. She had blood-red eyes and a crooked horn. Her face was chipped and looked old, and the most discerning feature of all was the moon glazing on her mane and coat. She had a malicious, devious and calculating smirk as the ponies ran. She started to attack the small town until the six iconic ponies showed up and blasted her away until nothing was left. They were heroes, and the villain, the monster was vanquished. It wasn't a happy ending, though, nothing really is. "Rex," master's voice called as she spotted my form under the tree, looking at the book. Her face looked confused until I looked at her with the most sympathetic eyes I could as she saw what I was reading, slightly forming a tear in her eye. "Where did you find this?" She asked as I gave her a lick to try and cheer her up. It really does suck not being able to talk, to tell someone you are there for them. But sometimes actions speak louder than words. She slowly sat down. "You can read this?" She asked. I hummed in agreement. My relative sentence was known to her now. "This, this was a long time ago." She looked at my eyes, which still held the yearning support for her. Heck, I'm a monster now, if I didn't feel sympathy for her I don't really know if I'd still be human inside. "A thousand years ago is when it started. We--I was still maturing and I let my emotions get to me. Celestia, she, well she's always been the favorite. I love her, she's my only sister, but sometimes it does make me jealous of her. Loathe her, and even envy her to a point of pure anger." I could see the quivering in her lip. "Even now, some still look at me like the monster I was that day, who vowed to bring on an eternal night and indefinitely bring suffering." I slowly crept my tail up next to her and brought her in for a hug. I wasn't exactly as warm as my human counterpart, but the action seemed sufficient as she hummed in satisfaction and love. I gazed back up at the moon, content with its eye staring down at me, in a loving way it was giving all its light on us. Magic I suppose. That's when I saw a rather peculiar sight. A vampire pony is probably the closest I could compare it to. Still, though, they were adorable, at least to me. Cartoony styling does something to the cute factor. The pony had a dark coat, I couldn't discern the exact color in the moonlight, but it had red eyes, not bloody, but a slightly dark shade of the color. When she seemed shocked at my appearance I could discern the fangs as her teeth. I suppose those weren't for looks too. It's crazy to think that there would be a carnivorous pony around. I could also gauge their popularity considering I've never seen one till now. "Princess--" She seemed stunned. I wouldn't be surprised not many ponies have seen me, and the ones who have usually don't for long. My eyes appeared to be boring into her very soul as I could see her slightly shake. I was actually beginning to feel guilty until Luna finally broke the ice. "Ah, Miss Nightwing, this is Rex. Thou--He is very dear to me." The vampiric pony nodded. "Your Highness, we have reported nothing out of the ordinary, but there does seem to be a little bit too much of a peaceful night." Luna saracsticly scoffed. "Are thou insulting my night." Nightwing began to chuckle. "Of course not." She approached and placed a hoof on my skin, taking in the feel of steel-like skin, both in feel and practice. "He is very intimidating." You should meet my former self, he was much more intimidating. "If I can speak freely your highness." "Go ahead Nightwing, we're friends are we not?" She nodded. "What were you doing out here. Your eyes, they look wet...were you crying?" Luna slightly blushed in embarrassment. "We--we're spawning up old memories of our nemesis Nightmare Moon." Nightwing mouthed an 'oh,' I felt where she was coming from. It certainly was a very depressing topic. "You were reading this book?" Luna hesitated until she nodded. I suppose it would be fair to keep my "partial-sentience" a secret. "Yes, it still saddens me that I became such a thing. And those that still haunt me with her memory every day." The Threstral sat down and began an embrace to Luna. "You'll never be a monster to us Luna, never ever." I wanted to say 'yes,' but I suppose a hug with my stubby arms could do. I could see another tear as Luna was getting emotional. Life isn't too bad, not bad at all. The figure held its gaze on the three forms below, expressing love to the target. A hoof came up to the on-lookers chin where a cheeky smile and a malicious grin formed. "Perhaps it is time for her to return."