//------------------------------// // A Hero's Journey // Story: Once You Reach Rock Bottom // by PhantomVortex //------------------------------// The night sky covered the sea like a delicate Veil of twinkles. Hoofprints marked the moist sediment like a trail of past doings. He stood gazing at the horizon, observing how the moon imprinted itself onto the water. "A villain, nothing more than a villain is what they see. A villain is all they believe I'll ever be." mutters Synapse under his breath. The changeling stood wearing a dark coat that was visible even in the dark of the night. "I can't believe it's over. My mission is finally at rest. Yet, I find myself lost in thought. Who am I? How did I get here and where will I go?" Synapse pondered to himself. Gentle hoofs dug through the sand as Synapse became slowly aware of another presence. "Hey, are you feeling better?" Asked a small colt with a gentle voice. "Yeah, I'm just trying to figure things out." Synapse responded. "Oh, you haven't yet accepted your fate as the villain of the story?" The colt remarked. ..... 'Silence' ..... "Why are you here Allacard? Do you not have anywhere else important to be?" questioned Synapse. "I have an eternity to get whatever I need to done. ..Besides, I enjoy your company. You are the embodiment of a screw up, you know." responded Allacard. "At least you're blunt for a blood sucker. ...how do you deal with it? " comments Synapse. "I beg your pardon?" exclaimed Allacard as his pointed ears peaked from his tricorne hat. The colt was a bat-pony with a navy blue coat and a curly long mane. The colt looked straight at the changeling with mocking ember eyes. "How do you deal with knowing that no matter how much good you accomplish, you will always be characterized as a villain for the more impactful demeanors?" Synapse questions. "I simply don't care" Allacard states with an opulent smile. ..... 'Silence' ..... "Were it so easy" Synapse remarks. The two figures remained in focus as the moon rose from where the horizon ended. "All of equestria treats me as rubbish. I feel forsaken, you know. A villain is meant to remain as an obstacle for a protagonist... for the progress of a hero." Synapse explains. "Well, that's a funny way of putting it. You make the hero seem like the relevant part of the story, but the truth is that a villain defines the story's outcome." Allacard preaches. "Why is that?" Synapse questions. "Because without a a villain, a hero can not exist." Allacard explains. "That doesn't change the fact that a villain's fate is that of an obstacle." Synapse comments. "Aye, but nobody is truly ever stuck as one or the other, everybody is a villain in some pony's story. Use yourself as that example." Allacard mocks. "Allacard, you are beginning to pester me." Synapse remarks. "Don't take it the wrong way, l simply believe that the idea of a villain is saturated by social bias. The simple depiction that a hero is 'Good' blinds the interpreters into believing that a villain is always at 'Bad'. This nation has been subliminally depicting mules and zebras as terrible lesser beings for countless generations. The same goes for my kind. Unfortunately some ponies believe every last word that is fed to them because of the fear of unfamiliarity and unpredictability." Allacard rants. "What's your point blood sucker?" Synapse questions. "Well, Ponies fear what they can't predict. That is why they search for a prediction done for them. Clouding their own judgement with unknown stereotypes. And if that pony is insecure enough, they will always go with what they are told is 'Better' for them. I for one believe that life is to be experienced and discovered for one's self. A single moment does not define the rest of time. Maturity and growth always cause a pony to change. Nothing is set in stone, and every pony make mistakes. The happiest ponies are the once that stick with it and they work with it to surpass any mistakes. Although, there are always ponies that rather search for another answer and a temporary feel of gratification. Until they realize that they had the same exact thing, if not better, on the other side." Allacard continues to rant as the moonlight amplifies the luminosity of his eyes. Synapse turns to the colt with piercing curiosity. "The point being that you're already a hero. You just focussed so much on being a supporting character for the Equestrian B.O.A. that you forgot about your own story and ended up becoming an obstacle." Allacard explains. Synapse turns to observe the moonlit calm water over the horizon. "You let your self-value be crushed, and now you're a villain like me. Except 'pitiful." explains Allacard "What should I do?" asks Synapse. "That's up to you to decide. You just have to flesh your story out by being your true self. I hope you remember the hero you once were. It's no fun not having an arch rival anymore. And you make a pathetic villain." answers Allacard. The two figures continued to observe the moonlit calm of the sea. As the moon rose even hire, a soft "Thank you" peeped from Synapse. Ironically, a hero's closest bond is always with their villain. On that night, a new friendship was formed and an old rivalry re-Kindled. * * * The Next Day * * * Synapse awoke with a pain in his back. Sleeping on sand is never as comfortable as it may seem. The changeling lifted his withering chitin and shook the sand off. "When did I fall asleep?" Synapse asks himself. He begins trotting towards civilization as he sees mare laying on the beach. The mare is shivering and appears dazed. Synapse decides to approach her. "Hey, are you okay?" the changeling asks. As Synapse scans the mare for any injuries, he comes across what seems to be a bug bite on the mare's neck. "Buck, Allacard this was your doing." comments Synapse as he strategizes what to do with the sickly mare. The words of the mocking colt ring in his ears, "I hope you remember..." as Synapse begins to lift the mare on his back. "I guess this is happening." Synapse mentions to himself as he gallops to the nearest infirmary. The once nihilistic changeling has now taken a step back towards nobility. What was once a purger of life and values, was now defending a life, which in turn gave him values. Painful groans suddenly break free from the dazed mare on the changeling's back. "Hold on, we are almost there!" Synapse ensures as he gallops past the dock and onto the boardwalk while zigzagging through crowds of ponies. The infirmary rapidly grew in size as the changeling galloped past all obstacles. *Groans* "Just a bit further!" Synapse exclaims as he bursts through the doors of the infirmary.