Monster

by BlackWing


Epilogue

Epilogue

One year has passed since the events that took place in the throne room. The press had a hayday with it. The hero who came from another world, and gave them so many things had sacrificed himself to bind an ancient evil forever, the same evil that caused the Nightmare Moon crisis barely six years ago. Nightshade's statue had been moved to where all the other statues go, the royal garden. The statue of Nightshade, kneeling, with arms stretched wide and wings forward, to embrace something that wasn't there, and a stone sword in the ground next to him. He was placed in the front of the garden, a place of honour, to be seen by all who passed through so they might recognize him.

The statue sat on a pedestal, with a plaque at the base. The plaque read.

"Here stands Nightshade, friend to all. He came from a world far worse, but made ours far better. Gave his life to forever bind the ancient Nightmare, standing watch forever, guarding us from it's return. May his rest be peaceful."

Celestia, Luna, Lyra, Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Trixie, Big Mac, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Zecora, all stood before the memorial, on the one year anniversary of his 'death'.

They each walked up, said a few words, and walked away.

"He gave is life to save mine, that I may continue to raise the sun and give this world warmth." Celestia said calmly.

"He gave his life to save mine, that I may continue to raise the moon and watch over their sleep." Luna cried. "He destroyed the evil which I myself could not overcome."

"He wrote me a book, and shared his knowledge with the world." Said Twilight, putting 'Forest Survival: A Guide to the Everfree' on the pedestal.

"He gave us enough money to fix up Granny Smith, giving us some easy work just for an excuse to do it." Applejack said, placing an apple pie by the statue. "I'll never forget ya."

"He had excellent fashion sense, and never complained when I chased him with scissors. " Rarity cried, leaving his old cloak on the pedestal.

"He ruined my life, and then gave me a better one to replace it." Trixie said, leaving the plaque of the newly founded 'Trottingham Shade and Shy's Sugar Shack'

"Ah pranked him, and he never got me back." Said Big Mac, leaving nothing but a manly tear.

"He was the only one who could keep up with me." Rainbow Dash sighed, leaving behind her Wonderbolt pin, the one she got when she finally joined them 6 months ago.

"He gave me maple syrup!" Pinkie exclaimed, leaving a bottle of the sweet substance behind as she walked away.

"He saved my life, took me in when I had nowhere to go, taught me to fly, and brought me closer with my idol. He became my dad." Scootaloo said crying, leaving behind a bottle with a cloud shaped into the word 'dad' inside.

"He taught me to be my own pony." Sweeite Belle said, leaving her signed microphone.

"He discovered my talent, and helped me to grow." Said Applebloom, leaving her favorite paintbrush

"I taught him much, he taught me some, twas not for long, but I had fun." Said Zecora Leaving pressed Nightshade flower.

"He became my brother, and made me a hunk." Said the now even bigger Spike, leaving one of his scales behind as he chased after Rarity.



Now all that remained at the memorial, with all the various objects sitting on the pedestal, were Lyra and Fluttershy. For a time, they just sat in silence, before Lyra finally spoke up.


"He gave his life to spare mine, he saved me from myself, and the world from my mistake." Lyra said. She didn't leave just yet though. "I was so jealous of you, I couldn't see what was happening to me, and because of that, he was taken from both of us. Even though everyone has forgiven me, I still haven't forgiven myself."

"He came to me, and even though I hurt him when we first met, he didn't bear a grudge. He made me the happiest I've ever been. I fell in love. He showed me the world through his eyes. He always cared, and was always kind, even if he was a little timid. He was a lot like me, but he was able to stand up and fight for what's right." Fluttershy said. She took out a dream catcher, one that matched the one he had given her.

"It was hard to make, but I wanted him to have it. Wherever he is, I want him to be safe, and although it is just a silly superstitious thing, he gave me his, to show how much he cared." Fluttershy took the dream catcher, and hung it around his neck, giving him a hug as she did so.

"He gave me one, back when I was all messed up. It held Nightmare at bay, but I was so poisoned, I threw it out. If I had kept it, this never would have happened. He gave me a gift, and I threw it out because I wanted him to like me." Lyra began to cry, Fluttershy put her wing over the sobbing unicorn.

"Because of me, he's gone. We'll never see him again, we'll never talk again. And you, you'll never hold him again. He loved you, as much as any stallion could love any mare, and you loved him back, and I..... I took him away from you. I don't know if I could ever forgive myself for that. I even wish that you hadn't forgiven me for it." She said, walking away.

Once Fluttershy was all alone with the statue of Nightshade, she began to sing, ever so slowly and softly, as this was a song of tears, not of joy.


Somewhere
beyond the sea
Somewhere waiting for me

My lover stands on golden sands
and watches the ships
go sailling.


Somewhere
beyond the sea
he's there, watching for me

If I could fly
like birds on high
straight into his arms
I'd go sailing.

It's far
beyond the stars
It's near
beyond the moon

I know
With out a doubt

My heart
will lead me there soon

Somewhere
Beyond the shore
We'll kiss
just like before

Happy as can be
beyond the sea

and never again
I'll go
sailing.


Once the song had ended, Fluttershy turned back to see all those who she thought had left, standing behind her, tears in their eyes. Her friends gave her a hug, and the princesses turned away, not wanting to be seen having lost their composure. It started to rain. At first, a single drop fell, landing in his stone eye, and rolling down his cheek, as if the statue itself were crying. Then it began to pour. The rest of the group headed inside the palace, while Fluttershy sat atop the pedestal, the stone wings protecting her from the rain. She reached up, gave him a kiss, and said.

"Happy Birthday"

THE END

OMG SO SAD. Yes, he 'died' ON HIS BIRTHDAY a year ago to save them all. I figured that each pony leaving a little something on the pedestal his statue is standing on was fitting, a little something from each of their lives, a reminder of all he had done for them. Kind of a funeral march. Are you all crying? Good, then I've done my job. Great, now I'm crying too. I'm going to let you all sob for the next while, while I take a break to gather my idea's for the sequel. Don't un-track just because it's over though. When I'm ready to start the next story, I'll put an update in here telling you all it's name, just in case you can't find it. It's been an awesome ride, full of laughs, d'aww, and the shedding of manly, (and maybe not so manly) tears. I just hope the next one is as good as this one.