//------------------------------// // Insight // Story: Bright Darkness // by Rattus and The Victor //------------------------------// "Radi'nce?" asked Ambrosial, checking up on him, taking note of vital signs. "Tha' used to be a royal name, y'know? A good one though dear, good leader. Went an' got lost on 'n expedition though." He pinned his ears back in contemplation. Could he perhaps be Radiance? Or were they just another one of the ponies lost during the expedition? Perhaps that was his ruler when he had become trapped in the ice. Truthfully he didn't know, however he knew the name brought him comfort, and he knew that was important. "Is the pony who brought me in okay?" he asked. "T' be hones' dear, I really don' know. I haven' heard anything of it since." "I hope she is okay." these words surprised as they escaped without him thinking much on them, however they were sincere. "I'm sure she is." Ambrosial said, though they both knew she was saying that to dissuade him from becoming consumed by guilt. "I want to go outside. I dream about it." he said while she brushed his hair. "I know dear. We're tryin'." "Thank you." She stopped brushing for a moment, these simple kind words unhinged her as she knew he was completely truthful and it wasn't an empty platitude. "You're very welcome." Trixie woke slowly, body stiff from sleep and aching from hunger. She realized she was still in the place Celestia brought her. The natural light that beamed in from the window coaxed a smile out of her, as it didn't hurt her. As she rose, so did the throbbing pain that tore through her head. The pain causing her to fall back down onto her mattress and groan. "Someponie's finally awake!" a gentle male voice rang it. "I know you are hungry, but do you feel like you can eat?" Trixie responded with a strong yes. "Splendid. I will be back shortly." What did Celestia do to me? she moaned internally. On the plus side, you're not dead. Yet. Thoughts were difficult to construct currently for her, her mind static, a rising crescendo of white noise in it ringing in her ears. A pinkish orange stallion pushing along a small cart as he strolled into the room, humming to himself. "You weren't awake for the grand news, but you'll be released very soon. But you are being keep here as a precaution- security theater really. It is all silly, honestly. I will be checking on you periodically- how rude of me- you may call be Cloudberry. No need for pointless formalities, they are dreadfully ostentatious and perhaps even insulting after your treatment in the Empire." Trixie numbly stared at him. She knew she should feel excitement and elation, but this was unable to faze her as she greedily eyed the food on the cart. She nodded at him, thankful that he wasn't going to be pretentious and fake with her. "Now remember, small bites and pace yourself, the first day you were here you over did it a little." "Other day?" Trixie spat,"How long have I been here?!" "Just a few days, dove. I don't blame you for not remembering. That spell can really do a number on the mind. You must remember to rest it. The mind needs time to heal just as a wound would, it is an organ as well and can be damaged. So don't overwork yours today- though I imagine you will and I have pain-relievers already set for the inevitable, holler if you need one if I am not here." "Thanks," Trixie got out. "Can you tell me what is going on? I am still really, really confused. Who was that pony I rescued? I have heard a name thrown around but honestly, I don't know much about your culture or whatever you think I know." "Most of us are aware," Cloudberry said, his usually cheerful disposition replaced by exasperation. "Though nopony wants to rule anything out, you know? You don't have much to worry about if you are innocent. And I know this is not the ideal place for relaxation, but I think you should take advantage of it for the next few days. Everpony needs to relax once in a while." He sighed, "Though I am sincerely sorry to say I do not know much more than you. I truly wish I did so I could put troubles far from your mind." "What spell?" Trixie got out between bites. "Ah yes. Well, to avoid any untruthfulness, Princess Celestia searched your mind with her magic. Though false memories can be created, there would be obvious traces of tampering. We all want to make sure you're safe, dove. I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are in much better hooves now." "Searched my mind." Trixie repeated. "Great." Nausea bubbled in her gut and foamed in her esophagus at this thought. She felt flashes of both hot and cold. She abandoned her meal in front of her to lay back down, no longer hungry. So she knows everything then. "It is a horrible invasion of privacy, and I cannot imagine what horror and sorrow that fills you with. I am not going to say it was okay, but I just know there is a great fear surrounding the pony you rescued. I will tell you more later, you know what a frenzy fear can instill in ponies, and you would want to know for sure you are safe, right? A necessary evil that am profoundly sorrow you had to suffer from." Cloudberry said, his tone empathetic and cool. Trixie was convinced he could talk a blizzard to disperse into a breeze with his genuine compassion and honied words. Twilight could barely feel anything but a pounding pain in her head. What was Spike doing? What happened to him? How did not only slip out without me noticing, but slip into a heavily guarded throne room? "It is alright, Twilight," she heard Celestia cooing, "Soon it will be over." This had played on loop for what could have been hours, or even days. She attempted to question the unrelenting voice meant to comfort her-both for an answer and for it to stop, as it was becoming maddening. She willed herself to slip into a slumber, though she could still hear the voice muffled in her dream. She was back at the library in Ponyville. Making breakfast for Spike and herself-pancakes with gem flakes for him, and chocolate and blue berries for her. Both of their favorites. She knew Spike was sick, even without seeing him, so she went to find him. "Spike?" she called out, "Breakfast is ready!" She was blissfully unaware of the dark blue alicorn perched atop the horse head statue in the middle of the room, staring at her intently as she passed by. "Spike?" she asked when she found him. She was curled up into a caterpillar like ball, turning black. His form quivered- like a magnetism was pulling bits of him apart before collapsing back down onto his shriveled body. "Oh Spike," she groaned, offering him a pancake. "Breakfast is ready, here, maybe eating will make you feel better." Spike didn't move. She nudged him- he was frigid as if he had been buried in snow, his scales were brittle and flaked off when touched. When she withdrew her hoof in horror, an inky black substance coated it. His eyes were closed, tears however, were frozen in time to his face. Twilight stumbled back, looking frantically around as if she knew just how to reverse this. Her magenta magic flared as she dislodged hundreds of books from their shelves, looking through each one, but they were all blank. She dropped them in frustration, shaking the entire world around her. "Zecora," she realized, "She'd know what to do." Twilight ran out her door, only to fall into the dark purple space of nothingness. She began to float off, away from her house. Try as she may, she couldn't teleport as her horn too, had begun to turn shriveled and black as Spike's body. She screamed out for help to the void, but it did not answer her. However, Princess Luna did, as she gingerly floated beside her. "Good Evening, Twilight Sparkle. It appears our lessons didn't go as either of us planned." "Am I in trouble? Did I do something wrong?" "I was hoping you could tell me." "No, I haven't. Is Spike okay?" "In this realm, no. However in the waking world we also have him restrained, Celestia is currently exploring his mind." "I don't understand- I mean I have an idea but- what happened? Why did I get flung across the room?" "It is a mystery to all of us, we are all curious as to why that is. Pray tell, do you indulge in dark magic in your free time?" "No- well, not intentionally perhaps. I don't usually explore much into the logistics if a spell is good or bad." Luna starred at her, briefly stunned before gathering back her composure. "Well, I think you should pay much more attention now, as it could well cost you-" Luna stopped as they both knew what she was to say. "Oh Princess Luna," Twilight sighed, "I don't understand what happened with Spike..." "I know, I have already searched your mind thoroughly- you put up a resilient fight however. I was not able to access as much as I hoped." "I am sorry, I didn't mean to." "Don't apologize, really Twilight. It just means you have a strong will. Here in a few hours it will be morning, you will be awakened for questioning. As will Spike, separately, of course."