I dreamt of the war.
That horrible, bloody civil war between brethren of the Empire. The decade of struggle I endured had always refused to lay dormant; either through instinctive movement or decision would it make itself known. The flashbacks were the worse, though in all my years on this new planet I had never endured any. That was when I had believed I had found a new life, a new purpose. I had believed foolishly I was given a chance to start over. Not until the final betrayal of Princess Luna did the illusion of safety and renewal finally collapse, unleashing in its wake the hidden depths of hell unto my mind.
I dreamt of my comrades, brothers and sisters all, fighting alongside me against people we knew and once loved. My dream stretched from the trenches of Mars then to the chaotic scenery of Titan. My powered armor my only companion through half my nightmarish recollections; my weapons and sword being the artistic stroke that doomed any sense of positivity within my dream. Blood was the wine from which my mind drunk, fueling each separate vision of my past life into the fore of my soul.
The scenes changed endlessly as if flashing before my eyes. Each one, however brief, instilled within my present mind the terror of the moment from which they were birthed. Venus, Mercury, Earth; the scenes and battles continued to change. Gone was any purpose I had for these hellish nightmares. No sense of patriotism, no sense of purpose. Only the unyielding emotion of regret and shame for the deaths I had caused.
When the scene changed in my mind again, it stayed. My nightmares suddenly became very real, I diving into them as if the it had been the day experiencing them.
* * *
I was on a mission near the Tycho crater in the southern hemisphere of the moon. We were assigned to assault and take over a rebel installation. It was one of the worst blunders in my experience as an Assault Trooper. The battle for orbital supremacy had gone all fair and well with only a minimal loss of ships, but when the corvette I had been stationed on began to drop the pods a counter-attack had been undertaken by the enemy. In the firefight our corvette was mercilessly destroyed, having only unleashed six of the intended fifty drop pods. The ones that were lucky were launched in the direction of the moon, all the rest would drift endlessly in space.
Such was the occupational hazards of my role and I dealt with the consequences in due order. I had landed alone, forcing myself to forget the faces of my comrades. Like them I would probably be dead soon anyway. My combat armor was a self-contained suit that gave me every advantage in surviving the harshest of environments, so I had no excuse in continuing my mission for my Empire. With a quick check to my HUD to verify just how alone I truly was, I followed the waypoint markers uploaded to my armor prior to my drop.
It was the longest seven hours of my life; a time spent both looking into the dark abyss of the heavens as explosions flashed and me constantly checking to make sure the enemy had not surprised men in some form. My steady breathing became my meditation and my sense of duty helped me continue towards my goal. I was determined to finish the job in any capacity, dead or alive.
“Outcast Four, this is Outcast Six, do you copy?”
I stood, perplexed at first from the voice. It had some static to it and I had to do a double-take on my HUD display to verify that the transmission was genuine. The IFF tag was clear, dispelling any doubts I had. I knelt down, placing the butt of my battle rifle against the soft lunar surface as my head knelt down. Instinctively two fingers were placed to the side of my helmet as I replied. “Go ahead Outcast Six.”
“Thank Yoaral and the Emperor! It’s good to hear someones voice. Outcast Four, what’s your status?”
I checked my HUD as it automatically displayed my location and other statistics. “Ammo green, location six clicks from Tycho. Lone ranger, repeat, lone ranger.”
There was monetarily silence before the reply, the voice somewhat downtrodden. “Copy Outcast Four, lone ranger status confirmed. I’ve not met up with any others as well. I’m green, good to go and...one click from your location by my HUD. Can you confirm?”
Again I looked at my HUD. “Roger Outcast Six, location confirmed. I’ll wait.”
“Wilco. I’m on my way Edward.”
I snickered, “Don’t go window shopping now, Timothy.”
“Wouldn’t think of it. Out.”
A sense of hope filled my being. Timothy Sanders had always been one of my most reliable comrades. Leave it to him to find me in this endless expanse of nothingness. I used my grip on my rifle to assist me in standing, the lower gravity making my battle armor move a lot more freely than usual. When I stood and gaze forward of myself I had a magnum pistol pointed towards me.
The person wielding it was none other than Timothy and, to my shock, he was without his helmet.
“I don’t remember any of thi-”
My statement of surprise to the changes in my memory were cut short, the de-armored Timothy pulling the trigger as the bullet impossibly struck through my visor, flew through my skull, and exited out the other side. I collapsed on the ground, still alive but unable to move. I felt something being thrown down at me as Timothy walked away. It clinked a few times as it rolled from the back of my armor, down my shoulder blade then into my field of view.
It was the talisman.
The orange topaz in the center of the talisman glowed brightly, encompassing my vision. I felt all anger, hate, dread, and remorse leave my soul as an overwhelming feeling of joy entered my being.
When the prisoner awoke for the third time, he realized he wasn’t alone.
He rose from his laying position, gazing towards the darkness of the corner. He saw something, something move. It darted from where he glimpsed it, firstly towards the source of his water then to the corner nearest to him. He stumbled backward as a dark and ominous form approached him, his rump colliding with the cold stone of the wall after several hoofsteps. He tried to grasp the will around him, trying to summon any form of it in defense. It failed when the shadow-form briskly leaped into the air and tried to pounce him.
KA-KRACK
Thunder resounded in the cell as the prisoner opened his eyes, his breathing beginning to steady. His ears rung and chest hurt from the intensity of whatever had transpired, he gazing around him to the remnants of a reddish glow. The shadow-form was gone, in its place a pile of rotting dust.
KA-KRACK
He visibly saw the second strike of red lightning. It was closer to him. He backed as far as he could into the wall, fear in his eyes and soul. This was it.
KA-KRACK
He whimpered, tears shedding from his feeble form as he shivered. At least he would not die of starvation here. He barely even knew what or who he was, anyway. It was for the best. He realized then that an overwhelming sense of calm had overtaken his fear. He began to breath easier, began to feel more confident. With a final breath, he opened his eyes, the last tear dropping to the stone floor as he stood to face his end.
“I’m ready,” he said, his voice echoing through the room.
When the lightning struck him, the prisoner felt his body melt away. In the absence of his form came an awareness unlike any other. At least in death he finally understood who he was and why he had been trapped here. His crimes were great as they were many. He regretted all he had done.
Then in a moment of absolute clarity, his eyes beheld the man. He wished the same peace upon him.
I awoke in a cold sweat.
When I opened my eyes, I realized it was still nighttime. I felt something warm in my hands, retreating from the comfort of where I slept to see it firmly gripped within the palm of my hand. The orange topaz was brightly lit, beginning to flicker softly as my eyes beheld it. The strange sensation of joy I felt at the end of my nightmare was lingering.
I didn’t question it. I embraced it. Whatever this talisman was doing, it had saved me from a horrible recollection. I couldn’t even remember what my dream was about anymore. I placed my other palm around the talisman, having then both hands clasped around its heavenly warmth. I looked towards the endless expanse of stars in the sky as tears began to fall. I was truly, undeniably happy and I didn’t know or understand why.
For several long, precious moments my head pointed skyward, eyes closed, enjoying this momentary respite.
Then I opened my eyes, beholding the strangest sight I had seen to date. The once red moon was now golden in coloration, its prior barren, hellish surface features now replaced with smooth textures of rippling water and lush landmass. I stared, dumbfounded, trying to comprehend how it could give off such a soothing and lovely hue of gold. My attention was then directed to the right of it, observing the plain-white surface of the other moon as it, too, appeared brighter and more soothing to my eyes. As the now-golden, lush moon began to approach the barren one in its orbital traverse, something amazing happened.
Around the two orbital bodies an electrical aura of red began to coalesce, streaks of what appeared to be lightning of the same coloration flashing between both. As they drew closer, the flashes of lightning intensified until they centralized in a point of light between the two. I stood from my sitting position, the talisman firmly within my grasp as it maintained its warmth. I watched, mesmerized, as the central point of light formed into a ball of golden-red. It then started a downwardly descent towards my location, I beginning to walk backwards.It quickly grew closer, my eyes now trained entirely on this new phenomena, all proper instinct and caution dispelled by my overwhelming sense of wonder.
I watched as my surroundings were lit by the steady illumination given by the orb of light. The trees, rivers and entirety of the valley in my vision was bathed in a golden glow. In short order the orb had descended the entire way, landing not but a few feet from where I presently stood. I took another step back despite the calm flowing from the talisman, my sense of wonder slowly being replaced with slight worry. I brought a hand to my face as the red within the golden orb intensified, blinding me briefly. Then it dispelled, the night returning as a strange red glow gently illuminated the surrounding.
For a moment, nothing happened. I could only vaguely make out a form through the darkness. I felt myself involuntarily gulp, feeling my stance straighten as I gazed strangely towards the talisman in my hand. The orange glow had subsided somewhat, but it was still visible. I looked back up, surprise in my features as I beheld two green eyes gazing in my direction. I was briefly stunned.
“Who are you?” I managed to ask, finding my voice. I watched as two scarlet irises entered the view of the green orbs, their pupils catlike.
I watched as the darkness seemed to form around the figure, giving it a shape and coherent whole. The eyes blinked and for the briefest of moments I witnessed a trail of purplish haze stream from their corners. Another blink and the green around the irises was gone, replaced by a clear normal white. I observed as a horn formed above its eyes to what I assumed was its forehead, briefly glowing red as the prior hellish moon had been, then glowing a more subdued crimson. The body continued to form afterward, I watching as it took the similar shape to that of Luna.
Its horn displayed its figure for me to see during its illumination, its eyes never leaving mine.
When the darkness around it finished its mysterious doings, I beheld the form of a pony. It’s colorations were darker than Luna’s, almost as black as night; I wondering briefly how any form of illumination would not be engulfed by it. I saw the streams of its black mane waft briefly in a non-existent wind and the black, feathered wings of a pegasus rise from its back only to fold neatly to its sides. I saw no clothing apparent on the new arrival, no clue to any sign of house or purpose along its body as Luna had taught me of so long ago.
It took a labored step forward, grunting with the effort. Then another. Then another. I fought the urge to go backward, feeling the talisman grow in warmth in my grasp. I could see the dark-as-the-abyss pony cringe with each movement, eyes straining to remain open. I moved forward, closing the gap, kneeling before it as its eyes followed mine.
“Who are you?” I asked again.
“P-Prince Som- uuuhh..”
The pony unceremoniously collapsed before me. Its mane no longer waved, its horn no longer glowed. I looked towards the talisman in my hand briefly, noticing that the orange glow had finally faded. I replaced it within a pocket on my garments, deciding it best to tend to this new arrival with due haste. I reached under its form, minding its further hind-quarters as I managed to lift it. I was surprised that I even could, but I concluded the talisman or some other phenomenon played a part in it.
In short order I placed the unconscious prince on my sleeping bag, managing to kindle a fire as I took note of the coldness that began to creep through the valley. I checked my rations, ensuring I had enough for two in the short term. Satisfied I sat beside my framed backpack, quietly observing the flames as the sounds of nature returned to the clearing. I felt well rested for the moments, producing the talisman again as I examined its golden surface. I realized I was still, for the better part, without the answers I so desperately sought.
The talisman blinked three times. I felt the brief instant of warmth flowing through my arm. I sighed.
“In due time, I suppose.”
The talisman blinked once.
“Heh,” was the only word I could speak. I then looked towards the slumbering prince. As an afterthought I looked skyward.
The sight of the red-hued hellish moon and its lighter white-hued counterpart greeted my gaze.