//------------------------------// // A New Friend In Times Of Despair // Story: My Little Ponys' The Count of Monte Cristo // by kahnac //------------------------------// And so the years began to drag on for Shining Dantes. And every day of every week of every month of every year was always the same thing: wake up, sit around trying to hold onto a dying hope, wait for afternoon meals followed by a bell-tolling torture session, wait for evening meals, then when he gets tired go to bed, after scratching another line on the wall. It always had been the same thing. Endless. Ceaseless. And without any care of the tool it was all having on our poor stallion's sanity, and heart. For as the years went on to 3, and any hope of a release fading away, Shining found he couldn't stand it any longer. Even the memory of his beloved Cadence could not stave off the despair, and anguish he had been haunted by for so long. And one day, he actually attempted to end it all. Ripping off one of his sleeves, he fashioned a crude little noose for him to wrap around his throat. Yet there was nothing to hang it from, so that he may break his neck. Save for the bars on his window. So he settled for trying to choke himself to death. It was alot more difficult than he would've liked. But he was determined to be free of his unjust torment. And if outside forces could not do it for him, then he would end his suffering alone. At least in the afterlife, he could wait in peace for when Cadence one day joined him. That's what he thought at first......until he looked down at the right of the room, where on the wall still rested the sentence he had grown more than familiar with. "God will give me justice". On seeing those words, he could laugh all so hollowly, as he had already begun to forsake the notion of any gods, or even the being in ancient legends, and myths said to be known as The One, whom was considered the god of all there is. He couldn't count how many times he considered just scratching in the word "not" in that sentence, to add to his growing belief that "god will NOT give me justice". But always, a small part of him refused to do it. A part of him truly wished to believe in those words, even as he suffered. All he wanted was to believe in them. And as such, it made him stay his hand, and let go of his makeshift noose. Left panting on the floor, Shining leaned back, and continued thinking of his home. And those whom he only wished to see again. Even if it was only one last time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grogar's annual torture sessions remain as brutal, and uncaring as ever. But at least they didn't leave as many scratches on Shining's body as the whip lashes he received. That always remained a constant. However, his senses had begun to also dull. Right down to the point where his agonized screams became pained grunts, and winces. Noone should ever have to experience such a thing to a degree as they begin to even lose feeling. Yet it was something that often happened. And Shining had ended up its latest victim. By the time it was done, he had lost track of time. He just let himself lay on the floor after he'd once again been dropped like a sack. Then he would walk over to his sit next to his cot, and put his head between his legs as his arms wrapped around them. Wallowing in his misery, and loneliness. After all, it's not like he could count on his little star being up there to comfort him anymore. All the while, that unholy shadow of a nameless devil continued to linger out of sight. Always staring at the breaking soul. Always holding that hideous grin of mocking enjoyment. Always taking pleasure in the suffering of this once pure hearted soul, now being reduced to a simpering weakling. And every day, the shadow would grow darker, and its eyes shined of a brighter crimson, thinking of the day when it would make its move. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Five years. Five long years had passed for Dantes' in the confines of his cell. And now, it was filled to the brim with those tally marks. They marred two of the walls like cuts from a feline. And even the mural in the wall was beginning to fade. Shining, however, didn't care one bit. He was always going to see this accursed sight. Always condemned to place those tallys on his wall, to remind him of them time he always lost. The moments of his life he could never get back. Signs of a beard appeared on his face, but he always managed to keep his face clear. Once, he found a broken stone that was thin as a dagger. He considered using it to pick his lock, and escape once. But that idea was dashed when he realized he had no idea how to even pick a lock. So he only settled for what he could think of: a sharpened tool to use for both making his time lines, and to prevent a beard from growing in. He sharpened it on the edge of his cot, and then used it for such reasons. Once he was finished, it had been late at night. And to his unfeeling dismay, it meant another day went away without any care of him. So, with no other reason to sit around in self-pity, he marked another line in the wall, and went to bed. It was hard, as always. Often, he ended up having unbearable nightmares of the last six years, including the very night this whole hell began. Seeing the faces of those 3. Those treacherous fiends, who he did no wrong to, who condemned him to eternal torment. Their shapes often became twisted into unholy monstrosities of his own nightmares, meant to torment him in his sleep. A myriad of feelings always tore through him when he experienced these dreams. All of them as negative as you can imagine. But out of all of them: his desire for revenge was something he unwitting found was stronger than any of the others. Oh, how he wished to make them pay for what they did to him. Tor force them to reveal WHY they betrayed him so. What he had done to earn their ire. Then, to cast final judgement upon them, and see them face their punishment. Whatever the case, he did his best to drift off to sleep. Hoping this would be one of those nights where he could just have no dreams. But tonight would be no time for sleep for the young unicorn. He was startled by the sound of tapping, coming from the middle of his cell floor. He couldn't imagine what could be making such a sound. He looked all over, but found no signs of life. So the thought of it being mice, or rats was out. Then he heard it again, clear as day. Again, and again it went. To his ever growing surprise, from the middle of the floor. And it wasn't anything random, either. It was rhythmic. Like something - or someone was tapping in a single sequence for something. Curiosity got the better of Shining, and he crawled over to where he heard the sound. When he heard it again, he decided to return the sound with some tapping of his own. He didn't know why he did that, per se'. But he had a feeling he was supposed to. To his confusion, the sound quickly stopped. He was unsure of what it meant, and ended up pressing his ear down to the floor. Hoping to figure out what was making that sound. Then suddenly, there came a push into his head. He let out a loud yelp as he frantically crawled back towards the wall. Something was coming through the floor! He had no idea what it was, and that was why it scared him so right now. On pure instinct, his horn attempted to ignite, though it was stopped by the inhibitor ring. His eyes were now shrinking into pinpricks as he saw the floor give out. Stones, and dirt were rising out of the floor. And to his terror, something had popped out of the hole. He couldn't tell what it was at first. Only that is was big, brown, and dirt ridden. Then his fear turned to shock when he saw what he now knew was a head turn around, and greet him with a pony shaped head surrounded by a lions mane whose expression was of one who realized he goofed up. But when he saw the terrified stallion clinging to the far wall, his expression grew sympathetic. His amber eyes softening, as he made a gentle, kind smile. Though his rather sharp teeth didn't help at first. Until he spoke. "Hello." It wasn't gravelly, or deep, or booming. Or anything ferocious, for that matter. It was a gentle voice, of someone who meant no harm. Shining managed to relax himself when he heard that voice. Seeing the stallion calmed down just a bit, the strange creature pulled himself out of the hole, and revealed himself in full as something Shining easily recognized: A Gargoyle. But what one was doing in this place, he had no idea. He just sat there in silence. Just trying to take in the fact he was with someone, much less with a Gargoyle. However, the Gargoyle in question wasn't too interested in him at the moment. His wings tucked behind his back like a cloak, he walked towards the window, looking as though he were trying to figure something out. "Please forgive my intrusion, sir." He said politely. "I just......i actually thought I was digging towards the outer wall." He looked to Shining, and saw he was visibly shaking. He had no idea why he was, but the Gargoyle was set on trying to ease whatever tension he may have unwittingly caused. "Uh......parlez-vous anglais? Italiano?.....Ponskie?" Seeing that he was probably wasting his time, he just spoke plain old equestrian, and introduced himself. "My name is Abbe Scorpan Faria. And i've been imprisoned here in the Chateau D'if Le Tambelon for over 11 years." He pointed a claw at the hole he just emerged from. "Five of which has been......spent digging......that tunnel there." He sounded a little embarrassed about saying it. Though it was obvious why, given what he had just said a minute ago. But he then began laughing in good humor over his little blunder. And hoping to ease Shining's nerves just a little. "There are-" Shining panted. "There are over 72,685 stones in this cell. I know, cause i've counted them all so many times." Abbe Scorpan Faria - or Scorpan, for short - leaned over to Shining with a raised eyebrow, then asked in a joking manner, "But have you named them yet?" Finally, the reality of the moment set in for Shining. He was no longer alone in the darkness. For the first time in 5 years, he had somepo-....someone to talk to who wasn't intent on torturing him. Someone who sounded like a most decent individual. And that made Shining sob with relief, and happiness. But also with a sense of misery, as he'd not spoke with anyone for so long. Scorpan felt pity for the poor stallion, and went over to hug him. Shining reciprocated the embrace, and let his emotions wash out of him. It was the first time in so long he had wept so. Now, it was for something good that was happening for the first time in a long time. And in his sobs, Scorpan gave him reassuring pats on his back. "It's okay." He said softly, like a parent to a child. "It's okay. I used to be just like you are now." He then pulled Shining back so that he can look him in the eye with a firm, but kind expression. "It'll pass. I promise, it'll pass." And again, for the first time in 5 years, Shining managed a small smile of appreciation. Now that he knew things were calmer now, he looked down at Shining's neck, and saw the hideous burn/rash beneath the insidious, black collar surrounding it. "Maybe this will help in the meantime." Then his hands glowed with a strange, gold color, and was placed on the collar, to Shining's growing shock. Another hand was placed on the inhibitor ring on Shining's horn. Before he could say anything, the ring clicked off, and was pulled away by Scorpan. Following that, Scorpan pulled back his hand from the jolting collar, which fizzed for a few moments before returning to normal. Shining raised a hoof to the collar, and asked in bewilderment, "What did you do?" "Let's just say I used my abilities to weaken that collar you wear. Next time the noon bell goes ringing, you won't feel the excruciating pain that normally comes with it. I.....can see it's been less than pleasant with you, my friend. Also," He raised up the ring, "i've given you a bit more freedom in your time in this accursed place. I know how it must feel for a unicorn to go without his magic for so long. It's maddening: especially when said unicorn knows he can still do magic, but are incapable because of these things. So i'm ensuring you don't have to go through that anymore." When Scorpan saw the growing excitement in his eyes, and his horn glowing brightly, he raised up a claw. "But I wouldn't recommend trying to teleport, or anything beyond basic magic!" He said with haste. "The walls of this prison prevent any teleportation to the outside in order to keep in every one of its magic-based prisoners. The best you can manage is telekinesis, and some beam projections, i'm afraid. That put a definite damper on Shining's mood, and any hope of him getting out went away. All the same, he WAS grateful for what this kind Gargoyle had just done. "Thank you." He said softly, but honestly. "You didn't have to do that, but...you did anyway. You have my gratitude." Scorpan smiled warmly. "Think nothing of it, my boy. I just can't stand seeing others suffer needlessly. That's why I always extend the hand of kindness wherever I can reach." But then he thought about something he almost forgot, before looking toward the window. He noticed the sky, and knew it was almost time. "Say, uh.......do you think you could use ME to exercise you magic use in a few hours? My wings aren't what they used to be, so I figure maybe you can help me." Shining raised an eyebrow in mild confusion. What did this Gargoyle have planned? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A couple hours later, and Shining was straining with his magic to hold up Scorpan to the window bars. He was right: this WAS exercise for the unicorn now, seeing as how he hadn't used magic in what already felt like forever. Like a limb which hadn't been used in ages, his horn had atrophied. Where once it was barely an issue, now he had a hard time even lifting up Scorpan, who was roughly around the same size as him (in body length, and width). But he managed, just long enough for Scorpan to see a most beautiful sight he'd been denied for oh, so long: the light of dawn. The rising of the sun. The glorious sun he hadn't seen since he was put in here. It brought a small tear to his eye as he smiled. He ended up remembering the strain he was probably putting on Shining, and asked him to lower him. He did so, but with a bit of trouble. But he still got the gargoyle back down. Though now he was left panting, and exhausted. But Scorpan, of course, showed just how grateful he was to the unicorn. "Thank you. Thank you, my friend. I haven't seen the sun in over 11 years." He placed a hand on Shining's shoulder. "Thank you." The he looked up towards the ceiling. "And thank you, god." Shining snorted in disdain as he almost caught his breath. "Don't waste your breath: there's no talk of God in here." "Really?" Scorpan asked curiously, before turning to the inscription. He was surprised by what he saw. "W-w...what about the inscription? What happened to it?" "Faded. Just like all of my hopes, and dreams, and wishes. And everything else I held in my heart once." "And.......what has replaced it now?" Shining took a final breath, before speaking in a rather venomous tone. "Revenge." Instead of seeming perplexed, or confused, the Gargoyle actually chuckled in amusement. Shining was annoyed at first, until his seemingly newfound companion spoke. "Firstly, since I actually forgot to ask: what's your name, my dear stallion?" Shining didn't say anything at first. Despite what had been done, a piece of him was still leery around a gargoyle. But....he had enough common sense to know prejudice was in every way unimportant. After all, they were the same in regards to being prisoners. Perhaps this could be a chance to at least end his loneliness by extending a little trust. "Shining. Shining Dantes'." "Well, Mr. Shining Dantes," Scorpan said, approaching the hole he'd made, "I have something I want to show you. Come with me." He then moved the stones which had been excavated, and started going head first into the hole as he spoke. "Perhaps revenge can be resolved as not the only thing you need to occupy your mind. Maybe the thought of it's been serving The One's purpose for you these past seven years." Again, curiosity got the better of Shining, and he followed his Gargoyle friend down into the hole. As he did, though, he asked in a tone harsher than he intended, "To what end?" Scorpan chuckeld. "Escape! Alright, here we are." Scorpan said, popping his head out of the hole on the side of the room's right wall. Once he's out, he reaches a hand in, and pulls up Shining by his front hoof. And he's amazed by the size of this cell. Rather than some simple giant box, it was like a small cavern. One with a little ray of light shining down from above. He reached a hoof out to touch all that he saw, though not before looking to Scorpan for permission, which he gave with a gentle smile, and nod. Feeling the new stone was like a new experience for Shining, now that he was no longer trapped with only the stone walls of his prison. He then began to notice that there was furniture in the room. Wooden chairs, and a table with several books on top. Apparently, part of some luxury Scorpan managed to procure for himself in here. He didn't care, either way. He was happy to just sit in a normal chair again after 5 years sitting, and laying on a stone floor. "One of the only decent things i'm allowed in here." Scorpan chuckled lightly. "And......you said you've been in here for 11 years?" Shining asked. "Yep." Scorpan said simply, looking over a bunch of scratches on his stone walls which appeared to be calculations of some sort. "But........how have you not gone insane in this place?" Shining asked in disbelief. "Going through all of.......that for so long." He shuddered, thinking of the implications. "I already thought I was going insane before you showed up." "Ah, but that's the secret, Shining Dantes." Scorpan said, pointing towards his head. "I already went insane once - but then I got bored of THAT, and went very.......VERY....sane." Shining raised an eyebrow in confusion. "How.......is that possible?" "It's entirely possible, my young friend. Madness, you see, is only a temporary escape from the world we live in. But, if we are able to learn to accept the harsh realities that exist, and overcome the feelings we hold toward it.....then they become meaningless. And with such limitations removed, you can accomplish anything." Shining wasn't sure if he understood what the Gargoyle meant, but he decided it didn't matter. As he looked down at a book, written in ponish, he addressed one significant idea which he had not forgotten. "You....spoke of escape?" Scorpan turned around to face Shining. "Oh, yes. You see: there are two possible directions for digging a tunnel which leads past the outer wall, and out to sea." Scorpan smiled in amusement, as he lightly laughed, "I just...ended up choosing the wrong one!" A few moments of laughter later, and he said, "But now, I think it's clear that we can do it, if we dig in exactly the opposite direction. Alone it would take WAAAAY too long." He then smiled. "But with your help, we could dig our way out of here in approximately......" He did some mental calculations before saying, "eight years from now." For some reason, Shining found that notion humorous. Incredulous laughter escaped his lips, and showed how he wasn't quite that believing of the possibility. Maybe because all the hope had drained from him ages ago, so now he was more skeptical than ever before. Scorpan, however, didn't quite seem deterred, or annoyed by his friends sudden laughter. Just a bit witty. "Oh? And you think you've got something better to do? An appointment you'd rather not be late for? Hmm?" The laughter ended, and Shining became more serious. "Of course not. But i gave up Hope of ever being free of this place. You really expect me to believe it's possible now?" Scorpan didn't lose his patience, and instead says, "Let me ask you this: is there anything else you stand to lose? Or is it that hard to hold onto one last speck of hope long enough to accomplish the supposedly impossible? I know it's been hard for you, being so alone that.....you feel as if you can never believe in anything anymore. But that's why it's important that you never give in to despair. Allow yourself to drift down that road, and you will lose yourself to your lowest instincts. In the darkest times, Hope is something you give yourself. It is the meaning of inner strength." Scorpan smiled again. "And I can still see that strength in your eyes - just buried beneath the walls of despair which threaten to cage you. You only have to break down those walls, and reclaim what was blocked to you." He allowed his words to wring in Shining's mind, in the hope of allowing him to understand its meaning. And the unicorn began taking those words to heart. There was a wisdom to it that he could never have imagined possibly existing. And it did ignite a small part of him which felt hope. There was no dishonesty in the Gargoyles words, or tone, and no signs he was just trying to cheer him up. He truly believed in what he said, and wanted Shining to do the same. Seeing the confliction in his features, Scorpan felt that he should offer something more than just wisdom. "And in return for your help........I offer you something priceless." Shining's head perked, and his tone became a bit more hopeful. "My freedom?" Scorpan solemnly shook his head. "Freedom can easily be taken away........as we both well know." Seeing Shining turn back to the table, and pick up the same book, he explained further. "What I have to offer is something which is eternal: knowledge. Everything I know. Everything i've ever learned in my long years. I can teach you....economics, mathematics, philosphy, science, military strategy, and-" "To read, and write in different languages?" Shining asked with increased hope, and with only mild hesitation. "Even.....equestrian?" But despite what he was afraid the reaction would be, Scorpan did not either mock, or belittle him for being illiterate. Even if it wasn't complete illiteracy, it was still just that. Scorpan, however, didn't care. He only smiled with kindness, and compassion, and said, "Of course." That was what finally sealed the deal for Shining. And for the second time since his imprisonment, he smiled. Smiled for the renewed hope which had been brought back into his heart. The hope of seeing beloved Cadence again......and hope of finding revenge. "So when do we start?"