//------------------------------// // 6: Wings of Light // Story: Neocros 2: Light and Dark // by Samuel-Neocros //------------------------------// “Wings of Light” ~.~..~..~..~~..~..~~..~.~ The night sky was especially clear tonight. As Luna raised the moon, Rainbow and Neocros spent almost an entire night playing games, and eating snacks. Eventually, it came time to go to bed. The couple had come to the bedroom, where they proceeded to lay down together.  Rainbow Dash released a cute yawn, feeling tired already. Neocros wrapped his wings around her, with her laying on his chest, at eye level with his neck. She had her hooves on his shoulders, and her tail moved to cover his legs with her tail’s fluff. Rainbow Dash stares into his eyes, and he was trying desperately to keep eye contact. This was common for him, he’d always have trouble maintaining a staring contest, but he tried, and won over his urges.  Rainbow glances down to his chest, seeing his sapphire ring in the center of his chest. The ring was nice and big, the same size as the Duel Spark. The ring had a soft glow to it, and seemed slightly shiny. She looked up at him, as if asking for permission. He nodded, allowing her access. Dash placed a hoof on it, carefully tracing the ring in circles, and observing it. When her hoof touched it, she could’ve sworn she felt his heartbeat in it, though then again, it’s place directly over his heart.  As she traced over it, Neocros shivered. Rainbow blinked at his reaction.  “What’s up?” “Nothing... I’m just... I’m just n.. not used to this feeling.”  Rainbow found his words interesting. She looked down, and stared at the ring again. Was this one of his pleasure senses? If not, then what’s it for?  “S-sorry for being sensitive...” he said, again. He laid his head down, and stared at the ceiling, almost confused. “Which is weird, how is it.. how can I take some hits to it... but when traced over, I’m sent to a sensitive frenzy?”  Rainbow traced over it again, earning a jump from him. Dash giggled. “You must really enjoy feeling that spot, right?”  “Ehh.. not really, just sensitive... there.”  Rainbow frowned.  “Oh, sorry Neocros!” she apologized. Admittedly, she thought it was a pleasure sense, but turned out he was writhing in sensitivity. In her time with him, she had learned he was very sensitive. “s’okay... Dashie...” he whispered. He turned his head, allowing his head to rest on the pillow. “I’m.. sleepy...”  Rainbow nodded, and laid her head on the right side of his chest, pressing her cheek into his scaly soft chest. Sleep came easy for Dash, but Neocros wouldn’t be able to rest easy, unless she and him were cuddling. The two slowly drifted to sleep, feeling each other’s warmth bringing them into Luna’s realm of dreams.  The sun had risen. Light was beaming through the windows, which helped the room to become lit naturally. Neocros had his eyes closed, before he awoke. Due to the fear and adrenaline, he sat up. He rubbed his eyes with his wrists. Fear was the only emotion he knew of, whenever he entered the dream world. While everypony else say that you can do whatever you wish in a dream, but for Neocros, he gets mixed results.  There are times, however, where it feels like whatever dreams he does experience, make little to no sense, or are too cryptic that it gave him a headache.  He looked next to him, and found that Dash wasn’t in bed. He sighed.  “...Wonderbolts...” he muttered under his breath. He took a moment to look at himself, he seemed to have transformed back into his base form, in which, he promptly looked for his Dual Spark, until he noticed it laying on the side table next to the bed. He guessed that Dashie had found it, and placed it there.  He laid back, to hopefully rest. He had heard of meditation, but he wasn’t always interested in such. The closest thing to meditation, to him, was laying in bed. He turned to his side, wondering what the nightmare was this time. As he thought about it, it reflected something that scared him deeply. What will happen between him and Dash? What their future will be? Would they have kids? Will they be sent to an Equestrian version of heaven? These questions kept Neocros busy within, which made him slightly anxious, especially from his dream.  Suddenly, the door opened. Rainbow Dash came flying in.  “Good Morning Neo!” she smiled. Neocros sat up again, and smiled at her, weakly.  “Morning...”  “Got pancakes down stairs, wouldn’t wanna miss them.” Rainbow mentioned. Neocros turned his head, facing the floor. “You’ve been sleeping a lot more than usual. Is there something up?”  “Eh? Uh... maybe...”  “Was it another nightmare?” she guessed, hovering up to him, wondering what’s wrong. As she drew near, Neocros gave the ground a disgruntled look, before he shook his head. He placed a hand on the side of his head, rubbing it a little.  “n.. yes... a nightmare.. it jumped me awake... and...” Neocros paused, slurring his words a bit. He looks at Dashie, who was now hovering towards him. She came up next to him, tilting her head. “Wanna talk about it, with breakfast?” Rainbow asked. Neocros released an exhausted breath.  “... if I... if I remember it...” He finished, as he crawled out of bed.  ~  ~ ~ The two sat at the table, eating their pancakes. Rainbow was enjoying her stack, when she watched Neocros eat his. He seemed to be slightly happy for the breakfast she made, but it was evident that something was on his mind.  “So, what was your nightmare about?” Dash asked. Neocros paused, becoming visibly uncomfortable. He dilated his eyes to the left, then right, before finally landing on Rainbow’s face.  “... egh.. don’t remember much... As far as I know, all I saw was.. well... ” Neocros was reluctant on speaking, wondering if it really is a good idea to share what he had seen. Rainbow saw his gaze move away, and he fixed his stare on his right hand. “... all I remember, are a few things.. Spiders... my friends fading... and the two of us shriveling...”  He was having trouble speaking, feeling like she’ll laugh. He turned away, not making eye contact. Rainbow Dash found his speech to be weirdly off, he seemed to be slurring his words. Was it because he just woke up? He sounded like his older self, from a year ago, when he was working up the courage to speak more clearly, now he’s back to being fearful. Rainbow mentally slapped herself, putting two and two together, that Neocros was probably was more afraid than usual. “... You promise not to laugh...?” he asked. Rainbow was taken out of thought.  “Huh? What? What did you say again?” she asked. He repeated his words, a little more anxiously this time, and she nodded in response. Neocros continued. “I saw you.. growing old... while Twilight remained the same... she stood in front of your tombstone.. as well as your friends...” he shivered. “... including mine...”  Rainbow didn’t say anything, knowing that Neocros may get overwhelmed if she ask too many questions. It had happened before, where she would end up asking too much, which resulted in Neocros seemingly going numb. He looked up to face her and noticed that Dash was staring at him, concerned. “Oh man..Neo...” she said, feeling bad. Neo tilted his head slightly, being caught off guard by her reply. Rainbow made eye contact with him. Neocros paused, and then just sat back, allowing himself to feel a depressing aura wash over him. Rainbow Dash watched as he rubbed the back of his head.  She was about to ask him how long he was having them, when she remembered that he told her a few days before she was kidnapped. He and her conversation was very short, with Neocros obviously reluctant about talking about it. He had been having these nightmares for a month or so now, in between the time when he moved in, to the time when the School of Friendship opened doors. “That.. that’s pretty depressing, now that I think about it.” she said.  Neocros was silent. He was about to speak, when his words died in his mouth, unsure what to say. As Rainbow thought about it, she started to feel more and more uncomfortable about what the imagery was.  “I’m sorry you’ve went through that,” now it was Rainbow’s turn to get nervous. “I mean..”  Neocros kept his eyes on the table, as he felt like the nightmares he had been receiving, could possibly be telling him a message. He glances up to her again, eyes full of uncertainty. “...but what... what if there was meaning...?” Neocros asked, feeling almost unsure. “.. I know I’ve... that I’ve had dreams of monsters eating you... and losing your life... but this,“  Neocros gave some deep, rapid breaths. “this dream alone, it makes me feel like... no matter how many enemies I defeat... or even kill... it wouldn’t stop the monster within.. that is old age...”  Now he could feel his lips get jittery, and his eyes were watering. He lifted his hand, and covered his face with it. He didn’t say a word, as he was breathing deeply. Rainbow just sat there, feeling awful for her guy’s situation. Dash got out of her chair, and hovered over to him. She rested a hoof on his back, as he silently wept. He turns his head, to look at her through his fingers. She reached out, and gently moved his hands out of the way, seeing his puffy eyes.  “E... ev... even though you might understand...” his voice cracked near the end. “... I always felt like everyone will laugh at me...”  Neocros tilted his head down, facing her neck.  “... I kept myself silent... because I felt you’d be like them... like every other soul out there... who would probably tell me I’m... that I’m crazy for being scared...” His voice gave out at the last word. Dash felt her heart sink, seeing Neo in such disarray. She wrapped both forelegs around him, and she gave him a loving hug. Neocros wrapped an arm around her as well, pulling her closer to him. He nuzzled into the area above her chest, sighing as he felt his emotions escape out of him.  Rainbow glances at his pancake, which was still on his plate, half eaten.  “Uhm... I-i.. I will admit, I’m kinda afraid of growing old as well...” she whispered. Neocros paused, blinking for a second. He lifted his head, slowly, and gazed into Rainbow Dash’s eyes.  “Y... you mean it...?”  “Uh, yeah.. I’m scared I won’t be able to fly the way I am now.” she replied. The dragon knew what she was talking about, but that didn’t compare to how he was feeling now.  “S...so... you... you actually... agree with me...?” Neo asked. “I-i... I thought I was alone...”  Rainbow couldn’t help but chuckle at his words.  “Of course you’re not alone, Neo. There’s probably others who’re just as anxious as you are.” Dash said. Neocros was speechless. He tilted his head down, and glanced over to his pancakes.  “So... it’s too late to eat breakfast...?” he asked, changing the subject. Rainbow turned to see the soggy pancakes on the plate, and smirked.  “It’s not too late, I bet I can whip up some more, ten seconds flat!”  Neocros smiled.  “W-well... as much as I want to...” He sniffled, still hurt from the nightmares. He felt a few tears flow down his face, with one of his tears dropping onto his pancake syrup. He paused, looking at it. “Uhm... a tear fell into my pancakes...”  Rainbow noticed what happened, and smiled. “Heh heh, it’s okay, it’s just tears, of course.”  Neocros nervously nodded, before the two proceeded to cook more pancakes.