//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: A Human, a Tyrant, and a God of Chaos // by Ender Inkbourne //------------------------------// A lone car is seen driving down the road surrounded by mountains on one side and on the other side were grasslands and the occasional old barn or cows peacefully grazing amongst tall haybales. It wasn’t an abnormal sight, even in rural Ohio, but it would make you take a second glance if you saw it. the passengers of the car were silent, but a sense of sadness and dread hung over them like the plague, though they tried to seem happy, yet it didn’t change the mood. The car soon pulled off onto a left turn driving through a large wrought iron gate, the name on said gate read: St. Adam’s Cemetery {Est. 1885} the car parked in the mostly empty lot and they all got out, each holding something in their hands. They ranged in age from 18 years old to 70 years old, all of them being either related to or friends of the grave they were visiting. “Come on everyone, im sure they’ve missed us.” The second oldest woman said. Everyone in the group nodded and they began to walk into the cemetery, along a concrete path, until they took a turn and began walking on the grass, stopping in front of a small granite gravestone. Inscribed into the gravestone was the persons name, date of birth and date of death. It read like this: Alex. J. Greyson 1996-2019 “Mom, its ok. You don’t need to hold it in.” a woman says, placing a hand on her shoulder. The woman let her tears fall onto the grass, not caring about anything else. She missed her baby boy, and she wished he was still here. “I miss him too mom, i know there was nothing we could do but we were with him through all of it, and i know alex is appreciative regardless.” The woman said. She sniffled and wiped the tears away before answering. “I know, Emily, i just..you were there for your brother more than i was..” she said. “Mom, you raised both of us by yourself, no thanks to dad, while you were working night shifts at the hospital, your an amazing mother, and alex loved you just as much as i do.” Emily said. Their mom set down the flowers, as did emily and her friends, and the elderly lady and man, their grandparents, set charms for good fortune and peace on the grave, before setting three sticks of scented incense, which were set in a traditional burner as they lit the incense sticks and said prayers over them. Their grandparents grew up in thailand, and though they weren’t religious themselves, they followed the funerary rights for family members to the letter, not only to show respect for the departed, but to also show they would love them even into the afterlife. “He’s in a better place now..” Emily said. They all nodded and once they said what they wanted to, they left. Back in equestria, though, it was the middle of the night, a dark blue sky full of stars laid above everything and everypony, who were currently sleeping in their beds. Twilight and her friends were sleeping in the guest rooms in the castle, them meeting me for the first time having gone..relatively well, they all, minus twilight and spike, asked alot of questions, most of which i could answer, but when asked about my family.. Yeah the tears started flowing, and honestly i was abit embaressed. While yes, i have certainly cried before, it felt somehow different now. I guess cause i wasn’t crying cause of pain, i was crying of my own volition. Since i couldn’t really fall asleep, i decided to go for a walk through the gardens. i walked through the halls of the castle, being as quiet as possible, as i did not want to wake anyone up, plus i was trying to avoid the guard patrols, as they would likely escort me back to my room if they caught me. I couldn’t blame em, as they were likely following Luna’s orders. Of course i then remembered that she was awake at this hour, though she was likely in Night Court. Though i didn’t realize at the time that something was following me. however before i could even get to the door someone dropped down, hanging upside down from the ceiling by their tail, their face in front of my own. I jumped back and landed on my butt, but didn’t scream as i did not want to wake anyone. “Oh, sorry, did i scare you?” I looked up at him with a mix of a scared and angry look on my face. “You did. Why were you following me?” He gave a sly sort of smile and i noticed he had fangs. “I wanted to make sure you weren’t trying to sneak out again, your quite known amongst the guards you know.” I stood up and dusted off my legs. Bear in mind i was only in my boxers and a t-shirt at this time. “Well, do you blame me?” He put a hoof to his chin in thought for a moment or two. “Not at all actually, i can understand being stuck here everyday must get boring.” “You have no idea how right you are..um..” “Oh, my apologies, i forgot to introduce myself. I am called Nightshade, private of the guard under Princess Luna.” “Nice to meet you, also, why are you hanging upside down?” He gave a small chuckle and smiled again, his fangs more visible now. “Im a bat pony.” “Bat..pony?” The stallion gave another smile and released his tail, and he landed on his hooves. “Yes, though i can tell from your expression that you likely do not know what a bat pony is i assume?” I nodded in response, kneeling as i usually had to with most ponies, though now that i was over the initial shock, i noticed his eyes were a light lavender color, and seemed to sparkle in the moonlight that came in through the windows. So he explained it, and the fact that most bat ponies eat fruit. Which made feel abit less nervous around him, thank goodness. “So, how about that walk?” “are you afraid that i’m gonna try to sneak out again?” “Luna and Celestia gave the order for the guards to be on watch after all, can’t be too careful.” I sighed, he did have a point. “Alright then.” We then headed outside, the moon shining above us, so at least we didn’t have to worry about not being able to see. “So what do you do during the day?” “Sleep.” “Wait you sleep during the day?” “All bat ponies do, we’re nocturnal after all.” “That..makes sense actually..where do you guys sleep anyway?” “Honestly, as long as we can hang upside down, it can be anywhere really.” “I wish humans could do that, but the blood rushes to our heads.“ I pointed to my head, giving a tired shrug. “I’m sure thats not the only place blood rushes to.” He gave a sly sort of smile after he said that. It took me a moment before i realized what he meant, which made my face heat up. “Seriously? You went there?” “Come on, we’re both guys here, no need to be so embaressed. “Ok yeah but still..” He let out a light chuckle. “I didn’t know you could get so flustered that easily.” I didn’t say anything back, as i was trying to get myself back under control. We soon stopped and sat down under a tree, laying back against the trunk, the tree itself was positioned near the westward wall of the gardens, giving perfect view of the castle and the surrounding area. “The castle is beautiful, isn’t it?” We both looked up, watching the sky, above us, covered in stars. “It is. Wish i could see more than just the castle though. I mean i understand why Celestia is keeping me here but, i just..” “I get it. You hate being confined, and i’m sure Celestia understands that as well.” “Then why doesn’t she at least, i don’t know..take me out into Canterlot at night, when everypony’s asleep?” “She has a reason for everything she does, maybe she has a reason for not doing that.” “Fair point..” I still hadn’t given up with being friends with Sombra, which was still in a stalemate, though i hoped i was getting through to him regardless. I was brought out of my thoughts by nightshade gently tapping shoulder to get my attention. “So, what were you into before you came here?” “You mean hobbies and stuff?” He gave a nod in response. “Well, quite a few things actually.” “Anything specific?” I gave a shrug, there wasn’t really anything worth talking about, at least i thought so, anyhow. “Well besides my love for science and reading, nothing else really pops into my head..well, except maybe fencing.” “Fencing? You don’t seem like the fencing type to me, no offense.” I gave a chuckle. It was true, people always told me i didnt have the figure or skill for it, but i never let it get to me. “I haven’t actually trained any, i was going to after i healed fully from my heart surgery but..we all know how that went.” “Maybe Shining Armor can teach you a thing or two, he’s trained most of the new recruits.” “Shining Armor? Who is that?” That name did sound familiar, maybe somepony mentioned it before, but who and when i couldn’t think of. “Shining Armor, he’s twilights older brother, and captain of the royal guard, well, the day guard anyhow.” “I’ve wondered why Twilight didn’t want to go to ponyville, guess thats why, can’t really blame her.” “Would you want to leave your family behind somewhere-“ It was then that the realization hit him, and he made sort of teeth sucking sound putting a hoof to his mouth. “Oh..right..” I felt tears come to my eyes, but i wiped them away with my arm. “Yeah..” There was an awkward silence for a while after that, neither of us wanting to say anything and we both understood why. I then stood up, telling Nightshade that i was going to bed, and scurried off. “Good job Nightshade..you had to say that didn’t you..?” As i was heading back, i felt a warm breeze blow by and i looked up at the stars, when i did so a shooting star flashed by before disappearing. Even despite me being an adult, i still made a wish on it. I know it seems stupid but i just felt like i needed to. Id always do it as a child, wishing for something i knew wouldn’t happen, but i always held out hope for it, regardless. I sighed before making my way back to my room and collapsing on the bed, falling asleep as soon as i touched the matress. the world soon melded into a starry night, on top of a tall hill with a tree planted at the top, the sky was full of stars and three people could be seen sitting on the grass watching them ”Mommy! Mommy! Look, a shooting star!” A little boy jumped up, pointing at it, a smile of joy on his face as a girl huffed beside him. ”now Emily, your brother did see it first, don’t worry, you’ll get your chance.” the boy closed his eyes and made a wish, opening them again a few moments later ”what did you wish for?” ”i can’t say! Or it won’t come true, emily.” the woman gave a tired smile as she watched her children stargaze. She didn’t care for it herself, but she loved seeing them happy, so she didn’t mind coming out here with them. ”Hey, its getting late, the kids have school tomorrow, Rachael!” The voice belonged to a man who stood at the bottom of the hill ”we’ll be there in a minute, dear! Come on kids, its time for bed.” When she said that, both of them groaned. They didn’t want to go to bed yet! “But mommy!” they both said that at the same time, giving a puppy dog eyed look up to her ”its late and you two have school tomorrow. But i promise me and your father will bring you out here again.” the trio soon joined the man at the bottom of the hill, and headed back to their home as the stars shined above them. I remember this. it was one of only few happy times we had with him. one of the only times he was ever a father to us. Luna couldn’t help but wonder as she gazed upon the dream, her hoof beneath her chin in thought. was it truly a dream? Or a purposely forgotten memory of a better time? She’d have to show Celestia this later. Right now though, she had her duties to attend to..