I opened my eyes and was instantly met with a shooting pain in my head. It was like a hangover, but not as bad as one. I turned about in my bed, trying to get comfy under the covers. I felt nothing in the bed with me strangely. I was sure that Nightshine and I were together in the same bed last night.
I opened my eyes wide and looked around slowly. I saw nothing. Nothing but a perfectly placed note. I rolled over to the note and then stopped as I picked it up with my magic.
"Had to go in the morning! Thanks for last night also! I love you lots and I'll see you at the Gala. Meet me at the front gate of Canterlot castle at about 7 o'clock." I muttered to myself. I was alone for the most part and didn't really want to do anything, or at least I couldn't do anything.
I shook my head and slowly got out of bed. My head beated like somepony was slapping me over and over again in the back of the head. It kind of hurt just thinking about it. I looked at the clock to try to forget about the painful thought. It struck 7 o'clock dead. I had a long day ahead of me.
"12 hours of nothingness left until my life changes, for better or worse." I stated a little loudly. I shifted about and stood on my hooves softly, still trying to fend off this disappointing headache. I slowly and carefully walked, or should I say wobbled, down the corridor and straight into the bathroom. I felt a little sick and sat on my haunches for a quick second. I was getting a little dizzy. I picked myself up and balanced myself at my sink.
My left eye had become bloodshot! It was so bad that it looked like it had rushing blood going through it. It shone a bright, reflective, crimson like red, like a glowing red orb mixed with Nightshine's eyes. I was a complete mess. I didn't want to be a complete mess though, at least not for tonight, at least not for Nightshine's big night. I wanted to look my best for her. I instantly forgot about the problems of my eye for the time being and shifted my focus to my mane. It was also terrible!
I got the brush I had from a cabinet and brought along some mane spray. This mane spray was some old, magical piece of work that kept ones mane from retreating from its state, so it said on the can. I shook it up with my magic and winced as my magic shaking was a bad idea for my head.
I dropped the brush by accident and then picked it back up. I gave my mane a quick brush, making sure that my mane was straight. I then sprayed a little amount of the spray on my head and my mane felt like it had froze. The spray left my head with a burning cold feel, which agonized my already hurt head.
My mane finally looked good for once. I turned to look out the window and stared into the sunlight was bombarding the outside with its brightness. I smiled at the sight, taking some of the pain in my head away and replacing it with a bigger urge for a coffee.
"Might as well leave and get some exercise!" I muttered loudly to myself. I couldn't hear Colt in my head for some reason. "Colt? You there?" I asked aloud. Still nothing. My head rushed with even more pain trying to think about what had happened to Colt. I had to get distracted… and quick!
I rushed down the stairs and fell down half of them as I lost my footing from being so dizzy. I landed with a 'smack' on the door and winced as I got up to see if I was injured. My back was hurting a lot now! I put my hoof on my back and winced as I felt over the injured spot. I brought my hoof back and saw out of the corner of my eye, that my hoof was stained red. I inspected my hoof and found that I was seriously injured on my back. I went weak at the thought.
I would have thought, at worst at least, that my scar on my back had split, allowing an excess amount of blood leak out. I might have been right, but I couldn't see my back properly. I just couldn't get a good angle on it.
The thought of coffee still lingered on my mind. That was my one main thing I wanted to get today. It was a beautiful day, so I would walk, admiring the day. The only bad thing was that I was bloody. My hoof and back and even sides were stained painful red. Red enough that it would cause concern around Canterlot. I needed something to cover it up. Something dark, something like a coat. I saw one of the rigid cloaks that I used to walk about in the rain with. I planned on using that.
I opened the door and was met with a particularly cloudy day, even though it was super sunny when I looked out of the bathroom window. I looked like it was going to chuck it down right there and then. I stepped out into the world, locking the door behind me. I then proceeded to walk calmly up the road. It was still a pleasant day, so I was going to be sure to enjoy it while I could.
I walked along the studded roads until I entered the paved confines that was Canterlot's center. It was more crowded than normal, but that might have been because I hadn't seen the busiest time of day for a while. I would always be working, so I wouldn't be able to see Canterlot like this. Since I couldn't work, I was able to see things going on that I would never see. Mares and stallions going into shops and purchasing different things. I walked past workplace and sighed.
I passed it without a second look back and traveled out to the Coffee Cream. It was something about the coffee that made me want to keep going there, that and the little scene that me and Nightshine had there.
I entered the shop and pulled down the hood of the cloak and looked at the menu. There was a vast selection of sweet and standard drinks. I was greeted by a mare in uniform. Her uniform consisted of just a red and pink shirt. It seemed to suit her for some reason. She was a nice looking grey earth pony with a yellow mane. She looked like that mail pony, just without the weird eye thing. She had two white stripes that went through her mane, adding a little style to it.
"Hey! Aren't you that stallion from the bar down the road?" She asked with a curious look. I nodded quietly and she sighed sadly. "I'm so sorry about what happened there! I wish that I could have done something to help." She added.
"There wasn't anything you could have done! It was probably done late that night. It's just a shame that I have nothing to do now." I admitted sadly, noticing that she seemed interested in the fact that I had nothing to do.
"As a gift for not being at work, and for making me feel bad for you, I'll make you a coffee free of charge!" She stated with a little smile, trying to make me feel better about it. I looked at her with a mixture of emotions, ranging from thankfulness and sorrow.
"What about your manager? What if they found out?" I blurted out emotionally.
She smiled brightly and chuckled a little. "Cut your worries! I am the manager, I'm also the boss of the shop!" She stated, sticking her tongue out at me. She gave me a coffee and lent on the counter. "You free later?" She asked. I stood on my two hind legs and placed my forehooves on the counter.
"Sadly not. I'm getting ready to go to a Gala later! Also, I'm in a relationship with the mare of my dreams right now!" I stated confidently. She smiled and then winked at me.
"So you caught me trying to hit on you then?" She asked with a wicked grin. I nodded and she sighed. "Oh well! Worth a shot… wait! Why have you got blood on your hoof?" She questioned. My ears instantly splayed back and I frowned.
"I kind of hurt myself earlier and split a scar on my back, I think at least!" I admitted sheepishly. She now looked at me with concern. "I'm fine by the way!" I lied, trying to convince her.
"If you're fine, then I'll leave you be. If anything is wrong, don't be afraid to come back here. I'll help you out!" She commanded. I nodded in appreciation.
"Thanks again for the coffee! I really appreciate it!" I stated before turning away. "Maybe we could be close friends still!" I added just before I got to the door. I looked back at her as she kept nodding at me and waved. I opened the door and stepped out to see that the sun had come out again. This day was confusing enough already.
I began to stroll down the road and stopped as I came to a bridge. I leaned over and looked at the water rushing beneath. The sound of the rushing water calmed my nerves. It always did! It had to natural water, like rivers and streams, not the water that you get from a tap.
I began to relax. My muscles relaxing in place, like Nightshine's massage last night had done. I was in heaven, but something felt off. Maybe it was my back, hurting and bleeding. I had no litteral idea what was off, but I wanted to find it out, and fast!
I stood back on all fours and felt a shooting pain trigger on my back. It was like a piece of glass was still in there, underneath all of the marks that I had acquired. I stood motionless as multiple ponies just looked at me. Most of them showing the expression of worry. I slowly walked away from them and could instantly see why they were looking at me. Not only did I whimper a little too loud, but I had blood dripping off my tail, from me leaning on the rail, allowing the blood to flow down my back, rather than collecting in the cloak.
I began to worry! Not only did I have ponies looking at me oddly, I was bleeding out slowly. I began to back away from them and turned to gallup away. I needed to be fast! Faster than Nightshine! My head was still painful, the sun didn't help the matter. I became dizzier and dizzier until I hit a wall, bruising my face a little and making my neck ache. My day was going great.
I placed my hoof on my neck and instantly regretted it. I winced at the sudden pain that was flowing through my system. I would have been fine if I was at home. I was waiting for a response from Colt… nothing! I was on my own for a while I guessed. I slowly paced my way up the narrow paths and onto the main road that lead to my home. I wanted to be somewhere where I won't get hurt. My back, neck and face hurt.
I finally arrived and unlocked the door. I then swung the door open and stepped inside. My coffee was just about the right temperature, so that I could drink it like a warm drink. I gulped it down and sighed. I threw my cloak on the floor and slowly shifted to look at it. It was plastered with a thin amount of blood. My blood. I moved cautiously up the stairs and into the bathroom. I didn't dare look at the mirror and I refused to look at it. That was until I caught a glimpse of some blood trickling down my side. I instantly looked and dropped the plastic coffee cup with shock.
My coat was stained red, making my fur go purple, with little splashes of blue and red along all of my body. I looked like a pony out of a horror film. The scar on my back was split, but there was also a big hole there. An indent that made me feel light headed just looking at it. I looked at the scar on my neck, that too was split. That let out some of the blood that I could feel.
I then proceeded to look at my face. My eye looked as red as the sun. No blood was leaking from it though, which I was thankful for. I slowly opened a cabinet in the bathroom to get some bandages, to wrap myself in. I moved the bandage roll around my torso and back, gasping at the pain I was in. I then proceeded to cover my neck, wincing as I tightly wrapped it around. I was in agony and I didn't care. I stopped at the top of my neck and cut the bandage off. I was a walking corpse, or a pony mummy!
I thought wisely for a couple of seconds before coming to a conclusion! If I was going to wear my suit tonight, then I would have to wear it over the bandages. I was just a mess! I couldn't allow anypony to see me like this, so I decided to stay in the house.
Minutes felt like hours as I slowly whittled down the time. I was tired, hurting and not quite right. I was still a little dizzy, but not as much as this morning. That was terrible! Throughout the hours, the blood loss faded, only to be replaced by uncomfortableness. It was about 6 o'clock. I was just laid on the sofa, watching a little bit of TV. I was still in pain, but that has subsided a little. My bandages were red a couple of hours ago, so I quickly changed them to stop my bandages from dripping blood.
I didn't feel like I wanted to go to the Gala, but I had to! For Nightshine's sake! I slowly got up and walked upstairs. I wanted to arrive a little before, so I could have a little look around. I got to the top of the stairs and walked into my bedroom. I opened the wardrobe and pulled out the suit. It was cleaner than I was. It had a magical enchantment that prevented it from collecting dust.
The suit was a pure black, with a bright white shirt. There was also a black tie on the suit. I would be wearing said tie to the Gala! I wanted to try to speak more Canterlot like, but it was far to posh of an accent to nail. So sophisticated! So instead, I planned to just relax and unwind at the Gala. This wasn't going to end like last time!
I put on the white shirt first, wincing a little as the fabric pushed down on my wounds. I then proceeded to place on the waistcoat. I could look good in just this, I thought. Good wasn't enough. I had to be perfect for the occasion. I slung the suit jacket over me and felt a lot heavier. It was a bulky piece, but it completed the final look. I slowly shimmied to the bathroom and looked into the mirror. I was like a completely different stallion.
The suit brought out my eyes, a lot more than anything else did. I didn't realise how good I looked in the suit, despite the red eye and bruised face. I looked back at the time and then began to trot down the stairs, making sure that I wouldn't fall again. I made it to the bottom and sighed.
"It's either now, or never!" I announced to myself loudly. I then opened the front door and then locked it with a soft 'click'.
I walked down the road, while the street lights dimmed the air around my every move. I crossed over a big bridge and found a massive flight of stairs, leading straight to the gates. I gulped loudly and slowly ascended up the stairs.
As I was walking up the stairs, I looked out to the sky on my left. The sun sent shimmers of blissful light onto me, irradiating me with a glowing warmth as I looked away and continued to pace up the stairs.
I reached the gate and stopped. I noticed one of the guards on duty and waved to them. They saw me and looked back in shock, before heading over to me. He was the stallion that took the crazed mare away, when I was at the event earlier in the week.
I nodded at him and he nodded at me. "Are you here for the Gala?" He asked, curious about why I was here. I nodded and sat on the ground.
"It's a long walk up here isn't it?" I questioned him, not needing a response. He didn't give me one. He looked down at me and leaned to one side. He was looking at my flank I guessed.
"You got your weapon on you tonight?" He asked, looking kind of surprised that he couldn't see it. I shook my head to confirm to him that my blade was not here.
"I left it at home… wait! How did you…?" I asked before getting interrupted, with a smile on his face.
"We know all of the ponies with weapons! Don't you have a gun too?" He pressed further. I nodded. He walked back to the gate and looked back at me. "Nightshine will be here shortly!" He announced, still bearing a smile on his face.
I blushed a little and stood up, getting a feared look from the guard. "What have you done to yourself?" He asked super loudly, snapping me out of my motion. I looked at him with worry and truthfulness.
"Please don't tell her!" I stated to him with pleading eyes. He paused to look at me and opened his mouth, to find that nothing was being said. He then closed his maw and looked me over.
"She's going to notice instantly mate!" He told me flatly. I didn't respond to him, I just walked to the railing and then stood up on my two back hind legs. I leaned against it and sighed, letting myself relax as the cooling winds passed through my shiny blue mane. The wind tickled my fur and brushed against my ears, which were splayed back at this point in time. I yawned and closed my eyes slowly.
As soon as my eyes were closed, visions started to appear. These visions ranged from my past, to events that didn't happen, or at least I didn't think they did. I was in an endless sea of emotions and experiences. My mind regained focus and removed all but one memory in my view. The one of Colt dying by a curse, not the changelings. I felt a set of hooves on my shoulder and turned to see… Colt's colt Firerush, only he was a little younger. I turned to the railing and saw Colt getting beaten in slow motion. I was able to move freely, like I wasn't trapped in a dream.
I looked at the changelings and rushed up to them both as the world resumed at normal speed. I rushed up to the first changeling and kicked them in the head. With one swift buck, they were down. The other changeling looked at me and drew their fangs out at me. I didn't hesitate in punching the changeling in the head. I missed and hit my hoof on a corner of a building, splitting my hoof a little and drawing an alarming amount of blood.
The changeling looked at me and laughed hard. I tried to pick him up with my magic and lifted him up a tiny amount. This wasn't fake, this was real. This was the present, but inside my head. I then remembered my teleportation spell. I focused enough to allow the gun I had vaulted up in my house to appear. I help it with my magic and then pointed it at the changeling.
"Please… don't kill us! We are only following orders!" The changeling I was pointing the gun at said, under pressure. I pulled back the slider and then slammed a shot into his head. The bullet passed through him as he then turned to dust. This was exactly what had happened to Nightshine in the previous nightmare. I turned and shot the other changeling. He too had turned to dust. I rushed over to Colt on the floor. Panting and gasping for more air. Blood leaked out of his mouth as he looked at me.
"I'm glad that you're thinking the same way I was!" Colt stated, the world slowing to a standstill, as he got onto his hind legs. I watched him with shock, amazement and confusement.
"What is this?" I asked looking around.
"This is my final memory, I died here, but I now have a new angle to look at it from." He admitted.
"Where have you been all day!" I asked angrily. He smiled and brought a forehoof to my cheek and rubbing it softly along the base of my jawline.
"Nothing lasts forever… not even Immortality!" He stated as he held my head. "This spell only worked for a certain amount of time. That time is up!" He stated calmly. I began to stammer and sputter uncontrollably.
"Wait! You're going?" I asked worryingly. He sighed and nodded slowly.
"I guided you to happiness!" He lied. I caught him and challenged him.
"No you didn't, I was happy before you popped into my head!" I said confidently, before realising what I had just said. "I… I didn't mean it like that!" I blurted out shortly after. He smiled and looked up.
"I know you didn't bud! I know you didn't…" Colt admitted as he then began to fade. I looked on him horror and began to tear up.
"What about your family?" I asked with a worried frown. He looked at me as he then put a forehoof on my shoulder.
"There your's now… please take care of them!" He stated out as he too began to tear up. I began to cry as I saw him fade to an almost unseeable level. I held his hoof on my shoulder and then I was left holding my shoulder…
He was gone… I was alone again… but not alone entirely… I had Nightshine with me, and she would do anything for me… within reason of course. I still had my gun with me, and Colt mentioned that I had to die to escape. I began to point the gun at my head and think about this… was he actually gone?
Somehow, I knew that he wasn't actually gone… I felt his presence inside my body and then smiled as I pulled the trigger.
Light exploded into my vision as I opened my eyes to see me stood on my hind legs, looking out at the beautiful rays coming from the sun. I felt a pair of hooves on my back and turned a little to see Nightshine. She looked a little concerned and then wiped the tears from my eyes with he hoof.
"Wanna tell me what's up?" She spoke, being a caring and thoughtful mare. She held my hoof on the rail and began to rub it slowly. It felt great to have her here. My headache was getting terrible, but I didn't care about it. I looked at her and forced myself to hug her. She was slightly shocked and then relaxed into it. I needed her to be here for me right there and then.
"He… he's gone!" I whispered into her ear. She pulled back a little and looked at me with a smile. She kept her eyes locked onto mine as I waited for her to say something.
"It's ok Mist… I'm here for you. I'm… I'm not leaving you ever!" She stated, splaying her ears back with forceful emotions. She rested my head on her neck and I tried to relax into it, but it wasn't good enough. She was good enough, but sadly, it wasn't helping. I closed my eyes and pictured Colt hugging me for the last time. I wrapped myself around her tightly and kissed her cheek. I then opened my eyes and saw that she was blushing. I smiled a little.
"I guess that if he is truly gone, you won't have anyone picking up that you are thinking dirty thoughts!" She stated, getting a slight blush and a quick stammer from me in response. She laughed quietly and I smiled a little more.
"You're all I need Night!" I stated quietly. She picked up on it and retracted from the hug. I looked out at the endless void that was lighting the way. It was truly beautiful! The sun was going to set soon, and I wanted to be around to see it.
I looked back at Nightshine, who had a curious look on her face as she looked at the bandage sticking up from my suit. She slowly walked closer to me and I retracted a little. She raised her hoof, as if to tell me to halt and I followed her orders.
I followed her orders and stopped my movement. I didn't want her to see this mess of a body that I had, but I didn't want her to feel like she was in the wrong or for her to even feel bad for me. I just wanted her to leave it alone for the time being.
She slowly placed her hoof on the bandage that was underneath my suit and looked at me. "Did you hurt yourself?" She asked with a slight hint of anger and confusion present in her voice. I didn't want to make her angry either.
"Yes I did! I'm not going to lie to the one pony that means the world to me. I fell down the stairs and hit my back on something, making the scar on my back split, and I also hit my neck on something too, making that scar bleed too." I blurted out with rapid succession. She froze a little at the words and then looked cautiously at me.
"Are you in pain at all?" She asked with a small smile grazing her muzzle. I thought about my answer in my head for a second before coming to a conclusion.
"A little I think, only in my back though!" I admitted. She didn't hesitate to take action, getting a medical box out of her saddle bag that she had on.
"I'm going to give you an enchanted painkiller that eliminates all pain to one location." She stated dominantly. She opened the box with her wingtip and grabbed a little packet. It contained a single painkiller within. She looked at me with a smirk. "Are you going to open your muzzle like a good Colt, or am I going to have to force you to swallow it?" She asked, a lustful and powerful look on her face.
My imagination processed the wrong image. Celestia damned! I thought."I'd like to see you try to make me swallow it!" I stated jokingly. She didn't take it as a joke, as she flew at me. I moved out of the way quickly and then watched her. "I'm just joking night! I'll take it on my own!" I shouted at her. She didn't respond. I knew that she heard it, because of the way that her ears perked up at the sound of my voice. She wasn't having it any other way.
She flew directly at me and then tackles me lightly, not enough to bring me to the floor, but enough to make it so I couldn't move with her wrapped around me. She placed the painkiller in her mouth and kissed me deeply. I didn't take into account that she had slipped the painkiller into her mouth. She entered my mouth with her tongue and placed the pill into my mouth. She then forced my mouth shut and wrapped her wings around my muzzle, allowing me to not open my mouth. She looked at me with hungry eyes and placed her mouth next to my ear.
"Yeah! Swallow it! Swallow it like I would you!" She whispered with a slight giggle. I blushed furiously at the lewd thought and instantly swallowed the horrible tasting drug. I gasped as she unwrapped her wings from my muzzle and tried to get as much oxygen into my lungs as I could.
"That was so cheesy!" I blurted out in-between a breath. She smiled with a lustful grin. She didn't nod or anything, she just sat down and then looked at me with a similar feeling that I knew now. Love. She was my everything. She was the best pony I could have asked for.
She stated at down and tapped the ground for me to sit down. I was about to before a literal ton of ponies stormed up the stairs. The gates to the Gala had opened and I looked back to Nightshine and then held out my hoof. She gladly accepted it and I pulled her up and followed the crowd into the palace.
It was a beautiful sight. I didn't have the words to describe it. The paintings were so detailed, that you could make them out to be cameras of the surrounding towns and cities. Photos were like there was a pony inside of them, and stained glass windows brightened the once gloomy hallway with a barrage of colours, bombarding my eyes with its brightness. I turned to Nightshine and then froze as I saw her ears splayed back. I forcefully tugged her to be hip by hip by me, with my magic. She noticed what I was doing and I felt something wrap around my tail. Nightshine had wrapped her tail around mine. It felt weird, but slightly relaxing at the same time. She looked up at me with a nervous smile and a slight blush on her cheeks. I kissed her on the nose and smiled back at her.
"Everything is going to be ok!" I stated, hoping to Celestia that I was right. We entered the main party room and caught sight of the main six, together with the commander of the guard, his wife and the two princesses. They were all chatting and then turned to see all of them. The princesses proceeded to speak to everypony, after they all came in, about the party and why it was happening. Apparently the commander felt like the guards deserved a reward for all of their hard work. They stopped talking and began the Gala. It was a beautiful night there. Ponies were dancing, food faster great, and was free! The princesses were having a good time and everything was good!
As soon as ponies were done eating, the princesses offered a reward to the most romantic pair of ponies. It was a dance party pretty much. Everypony strolled happily down to dancing area, apart from me. I was curiously looking at one of the stained glass windows. It was of a creature with great flexibility and the main six surrounding the creature. It looked like they were trying to catch it or something.
I was interrupted by a hoof step on the floor beside me. I turned slightly to see a towering figure standing next to me. One of the princesses. Celestia to be exact. She coughed loudly, getting my attention.
"Sorry princess! I'm completely out of it today! My apologies for that!" I blurted out as calmly as I could. She stepped back, allowing Nightshine to come into view. She was smiling at me. Nightshine didn't say anything until she got by my side.
"He's all your Nightshine!" The princess of the sun stated with a casual grin and a slight chuckle. Nightshine looked back at the princess and smiled at her.
"Thank you princess!" She pressed softly. Princess Celestia walked back to talk to the commander of the guard, as Nightshine reached around me with her wing and pulled me closer.
"You don't understand what it means to me that you're here with me Mist!" She blurted out happily. I smiled at her and rested my head against her neck and sighed. I was enjoying our time together and wasn't wanting it to ever end. I sighed happily and relaxed greatly into her. Her armour was still hard, but I sunk into her embrace.
"I'm glad that you put up with me!" I stated calmly. I felt like I was drugged! I was technically!
"Mist?" Nightshine asked, looking into my eyes. "I love you!" She stated lovingly.
"I love you too!" I blurted out… just before she kissed me. As she did, the sun sunk into the ground, creating a beautiful red glow from the outside of my eye. She pulled away from the kiss and sighed.
"Never leave me!" She said with a pure desire to love me more.
"I never will." I stated before giving her another kiss.
This was bliss… true bliss!