//------------------------------//
// Running with the Ponies Part.2 (21) 
// Story: Monster 
// by BlackWing 
//------------------------------//


Running with the Ponies, Part.2


After tucking Fluttershy to bed, Nightshade let out a little laugh. It was silly how she would get so embarrassed that she'd pass out, especially since she was the one to kiss him this time. And also adorable beyond measure. She was so kind, and caring, and she'd work herself to exhaustion if it meant helping another. She had already helped him and Scootaloo out so much. While it's true that he had helped her with the animals in return, this wasn't like the normal 'I scratch your back you scratch mine' that he had on Earth. They genuinely wanted the other to be happy. This was a strange feeling for him. He hadn't ever felt this way, about anyone. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he went back downstairs, and went to sleep on the couch.

"Hey! Long time no see?" Lyra was back.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite psychic stalker." Nightshade always was good with sarcasm. Lyra pouted, then perked up.

"Anyway, I'm headed back to Ponyville, just in time for the running of the leaves." She said.

"Cool, I'm running in it you know?" He told her.

"Awesome, now I'll get to see human running style. Wouldn't it be something if you won it huh?" She responded.

"Well, that's the plan. I may have made bets with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, and if I want to beat them, I'm pretty much going to have to come in first." He said back.

"Well, you've got your work cut out for you then don't you? I wonder how well you'll do against those two." She pondered.

"Can't do that badly, I can't use my powers during the race, and Rainbow can't use her wings, so it's all even playing field. I am pretty fast, and have lots of endurance even without them though. I should do okay." He said confidently.

"I'll be cheering for ya." Lyra said. And with that, she was gone, and Nightshade slept the rest of the night uninterrupted.


The next morning, Nightshade was woken by Scootaloo jumping up and down by the edge of the bed, and Fluttershy was woken by Angel jumping on her head.

"Oh Angel, I wish you wouldn't wake me up that way." She said meekly. The angry bunny just crossed his arms and frowned. He wanted to watch the running, and he was actually excited about it, but they were taking their sweet time getting out of bed. Scootaloo also wanted to watch, as her dad and idol were racing against each other. After everyone getting some breakfast, which consisted of omelettes and orange juice, and a carrot for Angel, they all headed out to where the running would begin. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were already there, as well as Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Rarity and Twilight.

"Hey, you actually showed up." Rainbow mocked Nightshade. "I thought you'd be so embarrassed of losing to me that you wouldn't even come."

"Nah, I wouldn't miss this even if I wasn't going to win and make you work instead of napping." He shot back. Applejack laughed. Rainbow, working? Dash was the laziest pony around. The pegasus shot her earth pony friend a glare, who returned the look and tied up her wings.

"None of them fancy powers ya understand?" Applejack said, giving Nightshade a very serious look.

"Wouldn't dream of it." He responded.

Spike and Pinkie Pie were already overhead, in a hot air balloon, commenting on the race as usual. Since three years ago when Pinkie had gone much too crazy with the microphone, Spike was the one doing the commentary. Twilight, Fluttershy, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Rarity began heading to the finish line. Nightshade stopped Rarity to ask something.

"No offense Rarity, but why are you here? I didn't think you like things like this." He asked.

"Well, after the Sisterhooves Social a few years back, I decided to be more open minded about outdoor activities. Besides, there are some photographers at the finish line, and I want them all to see you in the stunning cloak I made." She explained with a smile.

It was true, his cloak was stunning, and while he normally wore it only in town, this was a special occasion, he wanted to look his best. She headed to the finish line with the others. That's when Nightshade heard over the loud speakers.

"Everypony to the starting line, the running of the leaves will soon begin!" That was the mayor. He saw her once in a while, normally when she was on break from her endless piles of paperwork. She was the mayor after all, and at event's like this she had to show up. He couldn't even imagine having to sit inside all day, surrounded by files and forms. His train of thought was interrupted by a voice over the mic.

"This year we've got a battle of the best. Here's year's winner, Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie yelled. At this, the cyan mare struck a pose, and there were the flashes of camera's.

"And here's last year's second place, Applejack." AJ wasn't nearly as much of a show off, and so just gave a quick courtesy.

"And the newcomer, a not so monstrous monster from the Everfree forest, the newest resident of Ponyville,  and local hero, Scootaloo's dad!" She said.

"His name's Nightshade Pinkie." Spike corrected, obviously upset that even though he was the main commenter, Pinkie was stealing his thunder. At hearing his name, he gave a quick bow, not much for bragging, same as Applejack.

Spike went on to announce the other racers, and finally, the running of the leaves was about to get underway.

"Just don't cry when you lose." Rainbow mocked.

"I won't be the one crying." He shot back. He gave Applejack a quick look. "Good luck, let's have fun." 

She nodded, and the three racers took their positions with the others.

"On your marks!" The mayor started.

"Get set!" Spike announced.

"GOGOGO!" Screamed Pinkie.

With that, they were off. Rainbow Dash and Applejack quickly pulled out ahead of the pack, leaving Nightshade behind. They were still going easy, as too save energy for the final stretch, so they decided to chat.

"Poor guy, I guess he just can't keep up with us. Now I feel kinda bad about makin him have to help me with all those trees, when all he wagered is dinner at my place." The farm pony said.

"Don't be, he's the slowpoke who can't keep up on his bets, that's his problem." Dash mocked.

"Who you calling slowpoke?" Said Nightshade. The pair of ponies looked in front of them to see Nightshade's smiling face. He was running backwards. Slowing down and settling in next to the pair, he turned around and ran normally.

"What's the matter? You didn't honestly expect someone who has been running his kiester off for the past three years to be slow did you?" They stared at him wide eyed. They actually HAD been expecting that, when he failed to keep up at the start. Rainbow got mad.

"What do you say we take this up a notch?" She said, looking to Nightshade, and then to Applejack. For the two of them, that speed was barely a jog. They had obviously trained for this.

"Fine by us." They responded in unison. With that, the trio doubled their speed, kicking up leaves as they ran. After they had run a mile, Rainbow noticed that neither of her competitors had slacked off either. They all had beads of sweat forming on their heads.

"You're not using your powers are you?" She asked him.

"If I was, I wouldn't even be here, I'd be sipping lemonade at the finish line." He laughed. This just made Dash even angrier. The three picked up speed again. They had already cleared a third of the distance while the rest of the pack was reaching the 1/10 mark. They couldn't even see them any more. Leaves fell from the trees as the three ran by, the force of their legs shaking them from the trees. Applejack was looking winded, while Nightshade was grinning ear to ear, and Rainbow had a nasty scowl. The farm pony began to fall behind the other two.

"And it looks like Applejack just can't keep up with the speed of Rainbow Dash and Nightshade. We all know Dash is fast, but who knew he'd be able to move like that as well, and for so long?" Spike said over the speakers. 

"Sorry you two, looks like I can't keep up. Be at my place for dinner tonight okay Shade?" He almost tripped at having someone use a nickname, but he recovered and kept going. 

"Alright!" He yelled back. At his confirmation, AJ slowed to a saunter. She was meant for endurance, not speed. There was no way she could keep up with those two, and for that long.

"I must say, you're faster than I thought." Rainbow was getting a little worried. Not getting cider was a big deal, but having to actually work? That was unthinkable. She ran full tilt now. She couldn't go any faster without using her wings for added speed. Surprisingly enough, Nightshade kept up.

"Hey Rainbow, I was thinking about our agreement." He said.

"What, you trying to back out of the bet?" She huffed.

"Actually, since I won my bet with AJ, there's really no need to hold back any more. What do you say to, you can use your wings, as long as you don't fly, and I can use my powers, as long as I don't drain you." Rainbow thought about it. If he used his powers, he'd lose his exhaustion, but if she could use her wings, that'd give her some major speed.

"DONE!" She shouted, lifting her wings, and throwing the rope off. She began to pull away. Just as he was about to open up, he heard a voice in his head that made him trip over the rope.

"Hey, how's the race going?" Lyra asked.

"Ooh, it seems Nightshade got distracted by something and tripped over Rainbow Dash's rope." Said Spike on the announcement.

"Oops, sorry!" She said, before leaving his mind.

Getting back up, Nightshade said to himself. "Great, now the only way to win is to use that." There was only 1/4 of the race left, and since he did just call off the deal with Dash, there was no harm in it anymore. Having already recovered his strength, he began running ever faster. His pupils dilated, his heart pounded. He used five years of lifespan this time, and the swirling green mists covered him. All his aches and pains gone, he picked up speed.

"He's not out of the race yet!" Screamed Pinkie. "He looks like he just ate a triple decker triple chocolate fudge cake, and is running faster than before!"

"Pinkie, if he ate that he'd have a full stomach, and would move slower, not faster." Spike said in a sarcastic tone.

"Never bothers me." Said Pinkie. "Huh, whats that?" She pointed at Nightshade, a mach cone forming in front of him.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

A shining white streak zoomed through the forest. The blast rocked the hot air balloon, causing the hyper pink pony to almost fall out of it. Rainbow looked behind her in disbelief. A sonic boom. She could only pull that off if she flew as fast as she could, while using gravity to give her speed. He did it just by running. The white streak zoomed past her, forcefully pulling the leaves off the trees in it's wake, and making Rainbow Dash spin out from the wind coming off it.

"What the HAY!" She yelled as she regained her bearings. She was utterly flabbergasted. She quickly got back to running, and when she reached the finish line, she saw him on the other side, looking tired, but sitting in a recliner, sipping lemonade. He also looked a bit paler, but she paid it no mind.

"Well hiya Rainbow, nice of you to come. Take a seat, you look exhausted." He mocked. She turned red in the face. And not from embarrassment.

"What the heck did you just do?" She said, still unable to believe what had happened.

"I broke the sound barrier. Almost didn't make it. After I got tripped up by that rope, I didn't have any other choice. No way I'm gonna let you get out of helping me with my house." He laughed. Dash was about to tell him he cheated, but they had called off that part of the deal, and he had been tripped by her rope. She wasn't mad anymore, she was sad.

"Well, congratulations." She said with a frown.

"What's the matter? We had a good race, I barely beat you." He tried to comfort the downtrodden mare.

"Yeah, but now I'm not the fastest in Equestria anymore." She looked like she was about to cry.

"What are you talking about. You're the fastest flyer in Equestria. Running was never in the description. Even if I had wings, I'd still never beat you in the air. Besides, I had to use up a HUGE amount of energy to be able to pull that off, it's not something I could do every day." He said. With that, she perked up.

"Heh, I guess you're right. So, you get the title fastest runner. Fine, one day, we'll have to race again, you on foot and me in the air." She said happily. Now that she wasn't worried about her title, she loved the prospect of having someone who could keep up with her. Applejack finished the race, and looked partly mad, and partly confused. After explaining that since he had won his bet with her, that they decided to call off their 'No wings no powers' deal, she looked happier. At least they didn't cheat.

"Well, you're still coming for dinner tonight right?" She asked. "Yep, I'll see you at what, 6?" He responded.

"Yep, I'll tell Big Mac not to buck you." She said with a laugh. He cringed at the thought.


During the Race


Fluttershy took up a position, not quite near the finish line. Lyra sat next to her.

"We might at well relax Fluttershy, it's going to be awhile before anypony get's this far." Lyra said.

"I' guess you're right." Said the timid pegasus. No sooner had she spoken, she heard a soft whirring noise. Looking down the path, they saw Rainbow Dash, running as fast as she could, flapping her wings for extra thrust. She zoomed past, kicking up dust and leaves.

"I guess I'm wrong." Said Lyra. "Looks like she's really moving this time."

"Where's Nightshade?" Fluttershy said, looking worried.

"I'm sure he'll be along any minute. Speaking of which, what do you think of him?" asked the teal unicorn. Fluttershy blushed at the question.

"Well, umm, he's nice, and he's good with animals. He's patient with Angel, even though Angel obviously doesn't like him. He's a good dad to Scooaloo, a hard worker and..." She trailed off in her usual manner. "He shows me things I could never see otherwise. He has lots of good ideas, and, he thinks I'm cute." She said the last part too quiet to hear.

"I'm sorry, he thinks you're what?" Asked Lyra. She was interrupted by a very loud whirring noise. Blowing past them the pair saw Nightshade. For just a moment, they caught a glimpse of him. Running through the leaves, his shimmering cloak flowing in the wind. They both thought the same thing, he was the picture of strength and grace. About 200 meters down the path, a massive explosion. The boom knocked them both over, but not painfully. Getting their bearings, Lyra motioned to Fluttershy.

"Come on!" She yelled, pulling the timid pegasus along with her till she could run on her own. While they ran to the finish line, Lyra asked her a question.

"So, are you two a unit?" She asked.

"Are we a what?" Fluttershy said, genuinely confused.

"Is he your special somepony?" Lyra responded, trying to be as plain as possible. Fluttershy blushed. She would like him to be, but they had agreed to just stay friends, despite what had happened the day before.

"No, we're just good friends." Fluttershy said meekly. She didn't hear Lyra whisper, "Good." in a somewhat creepy voice, nor did she see the smile break out across her face. Applejack passed them along the way, but other than a warm greeting they said nothing.



Back at the Finish Line


Fluttershy and Lyra finally arrived. Scootaloo was already there, bouncing up and down in glee. Pinkie had already announced the winner with great excitement, and Spike continued to comment on the rest of the racers, who had now reached the 3/4 mark. Diamond Tiara walked up to Nightshade, followed by Silver Spoon.

"So, YOU won the running of the leaves?" Diamond asked.

"Yep, I sure did." He said with a smile.

"Well, you're still lame!" She said with spite.

"Pfft, whatever." He didn't care in the slightest what a pair of spoiled brats thought of him. With a 'hmmp' Diamond and Silver walked away.

"I thought you were great." Said Fluttershy. "Woohoo." She cheered.

"And I thought you were amazing!" Said Lyra, before jumping on him, and kissing him on the lips.

"Gaah." He said, pushing her off, onto the ground. "What the hell Lyra!"

"It's your reward." She said, looking to go for another round.

"Well I don't want it!" He said angrily. Lyra looked heart broken.

"Listen Lyra, I know you mean well but, I just don't think of you that way." He said, now calm.

"But, I saved you, I brought you to this world. I listen to your problems, I'm the only one who knows your past! I understand you!" She began sobbing.

"And I am grateful for that, but that doesn't change the fact that I don't think of you romantically. I'm not ready for a relationship, and even if I was, it would not be with you. I'm sorry." He said to the now depressed unicorn.

"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that, I should have asked how you felt first. I'll just go." Lyra walked away with her head help low. Luckily, Nightshade and Rainbow Dash had gone so fast, that they arrived before the camera crews could even get set up, so Lyra's humiliation would not be caught on film and publicized. Being tired from the race, having used 5 years of his life, and now having to deal with an emotional Lyra, he just wanted to leave.

"Hey Rainbow, come by my house tomorrow so we can start." She nodded in agreement. She was not looking forward to having to actually work. Turning to Fluttershy, he said, "Let's go home.

Arriving at Fluttershy's cottage, the two of them had been quiet the whole way there, with Scootaloo (who had missed Lyra's episode) bouncing along happily behind them, much like Pinkie Pie would have if she were there. Scootaloo went to go talk with the other crusaders at the club house, leaving Nightshade and Fluttershy alone, except for Angel of course.

"Do you think I was too rough on her? Please, be honest with me." He asked.

"I think you did the right thing. If it were me, I would have probably fainted, but anypony else would have been furious. She just jumped out like that. It's not something you wanted, and she did it without asking you. You're not mad at her, are you?" Fluttershy was always comforting, even when she should be jealous. Giving her a big hug, she let out a little squeak, and hugged him back.

"Thanks. As for what she said about understanding me, there's something you should know. Lyra is what's known as a telepath. She can speak to others using her mind. For the longest time, whenever she went to sleep, she would peer into my mind, and talk to me." He began. 

"While I was in the hospital with the princesses, they were in my mind, and I showed them my past. Lyra was there too, because she couldn't control it, and I can't block her out of my mind when I'm asleep. She saw all the horrible things that happened, and was understanding about the things that I had to do. Because of her obsession with humans, she worked with Twilight to try and bring one here, and they got me. If it hadn't been for her, I would have died, I would have never come to Equestria, and I would have never met you." Nightshade looked sullen. "I can understand why she might like me, but that doesn't change the fact that I don't feel the same."

They both sat there for a while, processing what happened. That's when Angel took out a watch, and shook it in front of him.

"Oh that's right, I'm going to Applejack's for dinner to meet the rest of her family, I better get going. Thanks Angel." With that Nightshade headed out. Angel closed the door behind him, instead of slamming it like he would have normally done. Having seen the whole thing, he was very understanding, and tried to comfort Fluttershy.

"Why doesn't she understand?" Fluttershy asked the bunny. "This isn't something you can force, it's taken me a month to get him to open up at all, and she thinks that she can do something like that. I did say we were just friends, but nopony can see that I want to be more."


On his way, Nightshade recovered his lost years from the forest, and narrowly avoided a buck from Big Mac when he arrived. (As it turns out, she did tell him, and he's just a prankster. You'd never think so because he's always so stoic, but that's why it's not expected) After that, they went in for dinner. She introduced him to the family. Once they were all inside, they had a proper introduction.

"Well, this here's Applebloom, who you already know, this is my big brother, Big Macintosh." She motioned to the red stallion. His head came up to Nightshade's chest, he was really big for a pony.

"Yeeeaap." He said.

"And this here's Granny Smith." She motioned to an elderly pony in a chair. The old mare looked up. 

"Why hello there sonny *cough* Applebloom's told me so much about ya. *cough* Living in the Everfree is a big deal, I don't like goin near that place one bit. I used to be quite an adventurer myself though, well, *cough* until I got old." She said.

Nightshade's eyes went wide as he looked at the elderly pony, who was clearly ill. He wasn't about to point it out though. Picking up on what he felt, AJ explained.

"Granny Smith has been taking care of all of us, ever since Ma and Pa passed. While me and Big Mac can take care of ourselves, we got our hooves full with the farm, and so she takes care of Applebloom, though she's been sick with a cold fer the past week, so I had to get to baking double time to get ready for this evening." The farm pony said.

Nightshade's eyes went back to normal, and he thanked them all for having him. They ate delicious apple products, apple turnovers, apple pie, apple crumble, anything apple you can think of. He devoured it with gusto. While he ate, he noticed Granny Smith coughed the whole meal, and was having trouble eating. Once they were all done, Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom went to go wash dishes, insisting that Nightshade sit, as he was their guest. Granny Smith fell asleep in her chair. He slowly walked up to the elderly mare, put his hand on her, and she immediately stopped coughing. Her face gained colour, as it drained from his, and he felt sore all over.

"Hey Applejack, I'm going to go outside for a minute, okay?" He called into the kitchen.

"Alright sugarcube." She called back.


Nightshade walked outside, and into the orchard. He started to relax, when he found Applejack right behind him, with a scowl on her face.

"Just what the hay did you do to my granny!" She didn't yell, but she was loud enough for him to know she was mad.

"Damn, I was hoping you wouldn't notice, or at least wouldn't confront me on it." He said softly.

"She ain't coughing or nuthin! Tell me what you did!" She demanded. Nightshade's looked depressed, and for a moment, Applejack was unsure whether she should be mad, or feel sorry for him.

"Alright, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to say anything about it, ever." He said, she looked at him, confused.

"I'm serious, you can't tell anyone else, you can't talk to me about it, you can't even talk about it in idol thought, If you do, and my secret get's out, I'd have to leave Equestria." He said. Now she was scared. What was he about to tell her that was so important, so secretive, that she could never tell another soul?

"I promise to never say a word of it, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye." She wasn't mad anymore, she had a look of trying to understand.

"Come with me." He said. They walked to the edge of the Everfree nearest the farm. Nightshade laid his hands on the trees, one by one, and Applejack watched in horror as six big, strong, healthy trees, suddenly died.

"Before I cam to Equestria, there was someone who I thought was my friend. He was dying, and wanted to make amends to those he had hurt. Now, you know I can use my powers to transfer exhaustion and injury, but that's not all there is to it. There is something else I can do, something that only Celestia, Luna, Lyra, myself, and now you, know about. I can pass years." Nightshade began to cry.

"That friend, I gave him an extra year, enough time for him to right all the wrongs he had done, but when he found out about my power, he didn't care about it any more. He wanted me to use my power to make him immortal. I refused, and so he tried to kill me and take it. Because of that, I had to go on the run, and while I was running, Lyra used a spell that brought me here." His eyes were full of tears.

"But if you can make ponies.. err, people immortal, why not? I mean, never having to die? Wouldn't that be a good thing?" Applejack asked.

"You would think so, but it's not. All things, even the princesses themselves, with lifespans of over several million years, will eventually die. It's the way of the world. All things must die eventually, to make way for the new. When we live, it is to make a better life for those who come after we are gone, but if we never go, then life is pointless. The world will become over crowded, and will become unable to support the population. It will get sick and die." He explained.

"Which is why nothing should ever be immortal. While we call the princesses immortal, in truth, they just have a lifespan so long, we can't possibly measure it. One day, after our descendant's descendant's are gone, they too will pass. My power, if I use it, would let me outlive all things, but it's not natural, and shouldn't be done. In a moment of weakness, I helped someone who I thought was a good man, and I payed for it." He said, tears streaming from his eyes.

"I still don't get what that has to do with my granny." Said Applejack.

"She's getting on in years, surely you have been thinking about it." He said. Applejack had a sudden realization.

"We knew, ever since this past summer. She was getting worse, so we took her to the doctor." Said the orange mare sadly.

"Who knew?" Nightshade asked.

"Me and Big Mac." She answered, tears now welling up in her eyes.

"And Applebloom?" He returned.

"Sakes no, we couldn't tell her her granny was going to die, she's too young, it would crush her. She never knew our parents, Granny's all she has, and she could go any day now." Applejack felt terrible having to tell him that.

"Not any day now, tonight. She will pass in her sleep." Nightshade said. Applejack began to cry as well. "At least, she would have, not anymore."

Applejack sat silent, and thought for a moment, before her eyes went wide. "You didn't..." She said.

"I did." He answered. Applejack looked at him, both with tears pouring out of her eyes.

"Why? You did it once before, and you almost died because of what happened, why'd you do it again?" She asked, sobbing.

"Applebloom. You said yourself, Granny Smith is all she has left. You and Big Mac are grown up, but she's still young, and she wouldn't be able to take it if she lost her. I gave her 10 years, enough time for her to watch Applebloom grow up. She may be old, and has had a good life, but she still has a job to do." He explained.

"While I get that you can't have everypony becoming immortal, why couldn't you do it for just a few, or even just yourself? She asked.

"Look at the trees." He told her. She looked back at the six trees, full of life moments before, now dead.

"Everything has a cost. The flame of life in a tree burns long, but is not as vibrant as yours or mine, for me to give her 10 years, I had to take 200 from these trees. And yes, while it was only once, could you imagine if anyone else found out? All of Equestria would come to me, demanding that I give their loved ones more time. If I refuse, they would hate me and try to get revenge, and if I say yes..." He turned back to the dead trees.

"Then it would be this, on a grand scale. If I use my powers irresponsibly, it would mean the end of the world." He said. They both sat in the grass at the edge of the orchard for a long time, before he finally spoke up again.

"And this is why I didn't want you to find out. Please, don't say anything, and don't come to me again and ask me to extend her life once more. I wouldn't be able to say no." He wept. Applejack looked at him, finally understanding his pain, what had caused him to be the way he was. 

Even though they had met not that long ago, he gave her a gift, at the expense of causing himself a great deal of pain. This was not to make her granny live forever, it was to give her more time, in order to raise Applebloom. She finally understood, and the thought of what he must go through every day, the pain and the temptation he faced, she knew that given the choice, she would not make the right one.

"Ah promise." She said simply, and hugged him, both still crying. After a time, they dried their eyes, to make it look as though they hadn't been crying, even though they failed miserably. They went back to the house, Nightshade thanked them for dinner, and said goodbye to everyone, including the soundly sleeping Granny Smith.


Arriving at Fluttershy's cottage, she was worried about him coming home so late. Scootaloo was already in bed, so he told her what had happened, in full detail. He could trust her not to tell anyone, because he knew she could never cause him that pain.

"I guess now I talk to Lyra in my sleep. I'll try to work things over with her. She's been knocking on my mind's door for a while now, I guess it's time to let her in." He told Fluttershy, who, although a little unnerved that some strange, and overly forward unicorn was going to be in his head, she knew that they needed to solve the issue of what had happened earlier that day.


"Hey Lyra." Nightshade said. He saw that she had been crying, and she saw that he had been doing the same.

"Hey Nightshade. What's with the waterworks?" She responded.

"Something happened at Applejack's, and I ended up telling her and Fluttershy my past. It's not something I wanted to talk about, but I didn't really have a choice." He said sullenly.

"Yeah, I, wanted to talk to you about earlier today." Lyra said meekly. He simply said "Okay."

"It's just, I've seen humans my entire life, through my dreams. I worked so hard, and I finally got one here. You aren't like the others though. You are kind, and caring, and determined, and... strong." She said the last word with the slightest hint of lust.

"I saw you at the race today, you were so graceful, shining in the sun, your powerful muscles kicking off the ground. You looked like a god. I've always been fascinated by humans, and you are amazing, even for human standards. I just..." She paused. "I love you."

Nightshade was a little surprised, but it also made sense. The human obsessed pony, falling in love with a human who's life she saved, and who she dreamed about. But it was all one way.

"That's the thing though, Lyra. I don't love you. Yes, you saved me, and yes you brought me into this magnificent world, and I am happier here than I have ever been, but I don't feel the same way about you that you feel about me. I can't shake the feeling that, if I wasn't a human, if I was a pony, you wouldn't feel that way, even if we still shared the same bond we have. I'm right, aren't I?" It was a little harsh, but Lyra needed to think about it.

"I guess you are. A lot of your appeal is that you're different. You're interesting. But you aren't a pony, you're a human, and it still doesn't change the way I feel about you." She said, desperately wanting him to accept her.

"And that doesn't change the way I feel about you. While I'd like us to stay friends, I don't think you should come in my mind anymore." It hurt him to say it, because she had always been there, but it was for her own good. It wasn't right for her to be sticking around something she couldn't have.

"You like Fluttershy, don't you?" She asked.

"While it doesn't change the fact that what I've said is true, yes, I do like Fluttershy. Even if I did not, that would not change the way I feel about you." He said, but as soon as he said yes, Lyra wasn't listening anymore. She was gone.

Nightshade tossed and turned, unable to sleep. What Lyra said and did was not right, but she wasn't going to listen to reason. Meanwhile, Lyra lay awake, crying, and felt a dark presence enter her mind.

"Little pony, why do you cry?" It asked.

"The one I love does not return my affection." She said, not knowing who she was talking to.

"Then you must make him love you." The voice said.

"But how?" She asked.

"Let me help you."



Dun dun duuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnn. Oh noes! Nightmare is after Lyra! But why? She's not powerful. Why go after her? What the heck is going on? Once again, Lyra totally messes things up for Nightshade. He's got it rough enough as it is, and she just goes and make it worse. Very sad moment with AJ, I totally cried a little bit.  Also, I used to be an adventurer like you, until I took an old to the hip. U MAD BRO(NIES)?

 After winning his bets, and making a sonic sunboom (just made that up), how will Rainbow Dash put up with having to actually work, instead of sleeping 18 hours a day? With her help, the house is sure to get finished on time, but what then? Will Fluttershy be happy to have him move out? "He can stay here longer, umm, if that's okay with him, oh I'm sorry, am I in your blog?" Oh it's alright Fluttershy, but you have to hug me instead. "Hey what about me? Do I get a hug?" Discord, you're lucky Fluttershy is here, and I'm busy being hugged, or I'd do things that I won't say in front of her. Find all that stuff out in the next chapter of 'Monster' (I haven't thought of a chapter name yet.)