//------------------------------// // 4 - Unforgiving // Story: Not alone in life, but alone in the darkness // by BloomingStar //------------------------------// A few hours later at Sweet Apple Acres... Even after being recovered from his injuries, Eternum would still not forget of what his cousin did to him. He promised to himself that when he's ready, he will challenge Phan Tom in a no mercy battle. He still reminded to himself of what will Apple Bloom think when she ever see his magic and his true origin. Will she still accept him even if he's different? That question kept repeating at his mind for like it never stops. After waking up from a long nap, he noticed that Apple Bloom is still asleep. He would've called her to wake her up, but he decided to carry her at his back then going home. As he reached the barn, he noticed a note with his name written on it attached to the door. Really not in the good time to know what his cousin wrote for him, the young colt ignored the letter and opened the door. He went to her room then placed her at her bed before leaving. Although angered, he went back outside to read the note as Phan Tom wrote these words, Dear Eternum, I'm sorry for what I did to you because I cannot let myself being trapped behind bars in order for me to continue my greatest task. I now know that you are angry at me for letting you being pushed back then letting your special girlfriend seeing the unfortunate event. I am deep sorry for that, but I hope you would understand this. Just remember that I'm willing to assist you in anyway I can to let you know more further your true potential. I'm not going to leave you hanging. From: Phan Tom After reading the words, he tore the paper up into little pieces still expressing his anger to him. As he turned around, he saw a large dark orb from a distance, he knew it was his cousin as he saw him coming out from it. "Hey, cuz. You alright?" said the young demon colt. "No thanks to you. Why would you care anyway?" Eternum replied with an anger tone. "Please, you need to understand." The young draconequus pleaded him. Just as he was about to make a move, Eternum released a shard of ice at him, but Phan Tom dodged it. He kept dodging the shards, but the young colt could not stop doing it. After a while, he stopped the ice spell and began charging an orb with the power of darkness, readying himself to charge forward to Phan Tom. The demonic being casted a runic aura around him which summoned a barrier. It deflected the attack and pushed the young colt back inside to the barn. "Please stop this, cousin. I had no choice. I'm needed for the sake of our vision as much as it involves you. It's for our destiny. Your destiny as well." "I already have my own destiny! Protecting the my love ones especially her even if it will ever be at the cost of my own life!" The young colt charged up another orb. "But I..*sigh* I'm really sorry" His last words before disappearing into the shadows. Just as it was about to be over, he heard a door being opened so he hid at one of the haystacks. What he saw was just Apple Bloom. Eternum questioned to himself of possibly she heard the noise. Just as he was finish saying the words in his mind, the yellow filly walked out of the barn. He then used heard a conversation outside so he used his powers to hear it from a distance. He heard the words, "Apple Jack, where's Eternum?" "Ah don't know, sugarcube. He may be at the town." "Why didn't he left a note or something?" "Well, a while ago Ah saw him carrying you back to the barn cause ya were asleep. He may be with yer friends, but Ah'm sure he'll be back soon." Eternum, now thinking of what do next for he can't just get out of the barn and tell her a lie, she may find it suspicious. He thought of an idea as he looked at the empty buckets. He grabbed it and escaped through a window as the two members of the Apple Family didn't even notice it. He then ventured on to one of the apple trees to gather apples. He chose one and started buck every trees. Tired yet he continued as to look like he was doing work to make the job faster. After an hour, he completed in filling up the buckets. He questioned to himself in how he can bring these back to the barn. He cannot use magic cause they might see it. After thinking of what to do to solve the problem, Eternum decided to just carry them at least two buckets at a time. As he carried the first two to bring, he heard walking as it gets closer to him. He couldn't see what was in front of him because of the heavy filled buckets that he's carrying. Trying to find the strength to look up, he was able to do it and found out it was her. "What are ya doing here, pardner?" Apple Bloom asked as she untied the string from him. "I'm just doing some work. Gotta need to keep my feet on the move." "But ya know mah sister never asked ya to do this all by yerself." She said as she wiped off the sweat from his head. "I know, but I really want to help out." "Ah really appreciate yer work, but ya should've asked us first." said by a voice behind her. It was Apple Jack. "Don't worry, me and Big Mac will take care of these. Ya should be going home now. Apple Bloom will accompany ya. The two young ponies walked back to the farm leaving Apple Jack and Big Macintosh to finish the job. They reached their destination and went inside to their room together waiting for them to return and for dinner. Eternum, still in the feeling the anger, hate, and somehow guilty because of the truth that he still don't want to tell her. Apple Bloom began to notice him and asked him, "Are ya okay, pardner? Ya look a little bit guilty to yerself." Apple Bloom asked. "I... well.... it's kinda hard to explain." "Come on, pardner. Ya don't need to hide it cause yer just gonna hurt yourself." "Its just that I felt like you will hardly believe me of this secret." "What do ya mean, Eter?" "There is something that I want to tell you, but I can't." "Tell me, Eter. Ah won't laugh or be mad at it. Promise," said the young filly as she hold his hoof. Fearing the possible outcome, Eternum took a deep breath in readying himself to tell her the truth of him. "Alright. Apple Bloom, I'm a d-" The young colt's sentence was cut off when they heard the bell rang. "Oh sorry, but it's dinner time, pardner. We should go." "Uh... yes. Let's eat." Meanwhile at dining room... "So, Eter. What was it again that ya wanna say to me?" " Should I really say it now? I don't think she will ever believe me. I guess I'll tell it when the time is right. Eternum thought to himself. "Huh?" He replied as he regain his senses. "Oh sorry, but I forgot. Maybe some other time when I can remember it again." "It's okay, pardner." After dinner, they went to their room and sleep together as they cuddled with each other's hooves. Still in the verge of hatred, Eternum feared of the possible between him and Apple Bloom if his cousin will ever come back to change the future. Meanwhile at the inn... Phan Tom went into a long depression state because his cousin hated him for what he did and thinked that he lost him as if the plan for the draconequus' domination was foiled from the start. He now began to concentrate in mastering new spells, hoping that he will continue to carry out the dream of his tribe. While practicing his new impalement spell, an orb appeared right in front him with a figure that is covered in darkness. He knew that it was his master calling him so he said to him, "Forgive me, master. I failed to bring the lost vision." "I understand that Eternum now lives with those damn foolish weaklings. We are not giving up, my apprentice. The vision of our tribe will never end." "But how, master? Eternum might be learning new powers and we don't have any idea how stronger he w-" "You must continue on our vision, young prodigal. Double your effort for you have the skills that can really overpower any of our specialists. You must face him even if he's part of us. You can either kill him or bring him here for a special ritual. Never fail this one for this is our destiny that we have to take. Understand?" "Yes, master." "*sigh* Eter..." TO BE CONTINUED