//------------------------------// // Blackest Thoughts. // Story: Equestrian Eeveelution. // by Symphonicdysonince //------------------------------// I woke up late the next day when Rainbow blitzed into her bedroom. I stayed in my bed and watched Rainbow zip around her room putting her luggage away. She was going on and on about the actual wedding. "And I think the only thing that stole the Rainboom's spotlight was Luke's and Ember's kid!" Rainbow gushed. <> "Not that I can blame him!" She continued. "The little guy was so cute! He looks like his father, if he was a dragon." <> I monotoned. "We have created a clone of you, one third your size!" It's just something else you'll need to stay away from. Can't risk breaking him now, too. Yeah... Don't want Luke to come down on my head. I heard what he did to the lightning cat the 'ling's summoned. A monster like you would deserve it, though. "You're not a monster." <> I muttered to myself as I shifted around in my bed. "Say something, Leo?" Rainbow asked. <> I lied smoothly. Rainbow came over and picked me up. "It would've been better if you were there with me." She carried me over to the bed. She pulled a brush out and started to brush out my fur. "Jeez, your fur is matted. Did you run through some bushes to get here?" She chuckled. <> I admitted. <> "Yeah," Rainbow nodded, "that'll do it." We lapsed into silence as Rainbow brushed out my fur. While I could feel my funk alleviate from the grooming, I still couldn't shake my depression. "Hey Leo, are you okay?" Something Rainbow seemed to pick up on. Monsters like you are never "okay". Just horrifying or dead. "Don't listen to it, Leo! You'll be okay, as soon as we get rid of our unwanted guest!" Oh, that's rich, coming from you! Rainbow lifted my head to look at her. "Leo? Are... are you okay?" <> I muttered, letting my head flop back onto Rainbow's lap when she let go. I felt Rainbow slowly stop brushing me. I watched as the cloud bed turned into cloud floor, which in turn became open air over ground. I didn't worry, I knew that Rainbow was holding onto me. You don't deserve her. I know... "That's a lie! You deserve her, as much as she deserves you!" I shrugged. I guess... I barely took in the surroundings as we flew, so I was a little surprised when we touched down at Fluttershy's.  <<... What're we doing here?>> "You are going to check up on your eggs." Rainbow nudged me towards the Daycare. "I need to talk to Fluttershy." I sullenly nodded and trudged my way up the ramp. I slowly made my way through the routine of checking on the eggs, then separated myself from them, laying down at the top of the ramp. "What's wrong, Leo? You're not going to warm your eggs?" What if I snap and damage them? "That won't happen and you know it!" Says you. "There she is, you two." I glanced over at the sound of Rainbow's voice, spotting Fluttershy and Conner coming towards me. I rolled over so that my back was to them. I ignored the conversation that Rainbow was having with the two. Probably telling them about how much of a disappointment I am... Heh, I can hear her now, "Can I get a refund on my bitch?" "That's not what they're talking about, and you know it!" I sighed. Might as well be... "Now listen here-!" I felt something fleshy touch me, but it quickly flinched away with a hiss. I lazily glanced over to see Conner with the tip of a ribbon in his mouth, his eye's watering in pain. ... I just hurt people. <> Conner whimpered through his ribbon. <> <> I muttered, turning away again. I ignored the Sylveon as he returned to talking with his owner and Rainbow. "You're not fine, Leo. These dark thoughts, they're not yours!" Oh, they are. They're the ones you hide away from the rest. Just like the ones from years ago... "And you already know that you're better than them!" A fuzzy paw roughly poked my shoulder. <> I heard Angel grunt from behind me. <> <<'Kay.>> I mumbled into my tail. <> <> I heard the ramp creaking as Angel shifted his weight from foot to foot. <> <<'Kay.>> I sighed as Angel hopped away. I stayed within the confines of the Daycare's doorway for the next several days. I barely moved other than to check on the eggs, and even then, only on my Brain's insistence. Conner would bring me food, but avoided touching me, hissing in pain whenever he accidentally did so. Angel took it upon himself to make sure I actually ate. Usually, this meant him taking pawfuls of food and cramming it down my throat. If it wasn't for him also cleaning the resulting mess up, my fur would've been matted with dried food. After the eighth day of this, even Angel was showing concern. On the ninth day, Rainbow stopped by for an update. Against my desires, I listened in. "Has she moved at all?" Rainbow asked "Except for, um, bathroom breaks?" Fluttershy's timid voice was barely audible. "Not really, no. She's done some stuff to look after the eggs, but, um, it's not very often? Or, not as often as she used to." "So... What's wrong with her?" My flinch went unnoticed. Conner spoke up and was translated by Fluttershy. <> "I think I might have a hunch..." Rainbow muttered. Louder, she added. "So, what can we do to fix it?" See, you're a broken tool, useless until fixed. But you're too broken for that, and you know it. I glanced over at the trio and, seeing that they weren't paying attention to me, got up and silently walked away. "Leo... Where are you going? My Brain thought as I entered the Everfree. "Away." I mumbled. "Er... Why?" I didn't think of a response until after I passed by our memorial clearing. "So that I won't cause problems anymore." "So... You're running away?" I sat down in the middle of a clearing that reeked of rotten wood. Hehehe. Nope. A chorus of growling filled the air as timberwolves stalked out from their dens. She's given up. I've won.