//------------------------------// // Shadow Of Death: Evening // Story: Imbalanced // by Nameless Narrator //------------------------------// [Choking's Entry] Should I really do this? Maybe I could ask Sharpie for advice. No. All he would say is that putting myself in danger like this is pointless and won't change what has already happened. [End Entry] With his wings covered by brown robe, Void looks just like a normal unicorn in the evening shadows with only his golden eyes bringing attenton to him. "This body has got its advantages. Ponies will not be overly suspicious anywhere we decide to go," comments Void on his new clothes. "Speaking of which, where do you want to go?" "I believe I shall let you decide the matter as all taverns I remember are gone." "Didn't you gain Blaze's memories after eating him?" "I did not eat anypony and neither did I inherit Blazing Light's memories. I just know a bit from being inside him and being a good judge of situation and character. Also I spent more than a millenium locked in Tartarus watching the world develop and you cannot imagine how boring that is." "Alright then. Let's go to the Lucky Horseshoe. It should be open and nopony will bother us. Can you teleport us there like you did coming here?" "For various reasons I cannot. We will have to take the scenic route through Canterlot." "I though something like this would be easy for somepony tough enough to challenge Celestia." "Unfortunately, I did not get affected only by your friend's body structure. His lack of ability to use magic is also holding me back and who knows what else is going to show up so I definitely am not able to challenge Celestia at the moment but your comment gave me an idea." "But you teleported here?" "And that was a very risky move. You see, if I use either what little magic I can or any of my natural abilities I risk getting traced by Celestia, Luna or others which is a thing I cannot deal with right now." "Okay okay. Let's just go." His wings burst through the cloak without damaging it in any way, magic is wonderful in some ways I guess. Hidden by the encroaching darkness of the coming night, we fly out of the castle and stay unnoticed until we descend towards the Lucky Horseshoe. Standing in front of the badly lit sign almost imperceptible in the alley, our only risk of being spotted is a pony throwing up behind an old dumpster and he is obviously occupied. "Lovely place," snorts Void, taking in the decrepit atmosphere around the joint. "Well we could go and visit The Gilded Hall where all the amazing upstart citizens such as prince Blueblood, Fancy Pants and both princesses like to have their dinner." I gotta admit his snobbish approach is kinda annoying. I can get over the 'I am ancient and infinitely wiser than thou' speech pattern but this is my favourite bar so he can just shut up. My sarcasm apparently works because he doesn't bother answering and opens the door. A fat but menacing bouncer blocks our path towards the counter. "Hello ladies, are you sure this is the right place for your kind?" he rumbles. Void looks around with an expression of 'certainly not' and then turns back to the bouncer. Apparently the lack of magic isn't the only thing he inherited from Blaze and the soft features of his face can cause comments, or jokes. Even Blaze wasn't one to take those comments lightly so I just wave at the bouncer to catch his attention. Turning my joint into a smoldering crater isn't my idea of a good evening. "It's me Brick and 'he' is here with me." Brick smiles, revealing a mouth with more holes than teeth. "Hey, Darky! You and your guests are always welcome, feel free to come in. Today's special is 'blind monk' so grab one while you can. Get one for your marefriend as well and she's gonna jump your bones later. Just kidding, just kidding," Brick puts up his forelegs in a defensive gesture. Despite his smaller size in comparison to the bouncer, Void is somehow capable of promising slow and painful death via a short glance. We sit down at one of the tables. I personally prefer barstools but planning something unpleasantly similar to high treason might not be the best idea in front of a bartender. Speaking of which, an elderly unicorn levitates drink to our table and points to the corner of the room. "The gentlecolt sitting at that table wishes to send you and your beautiful friend his regards." "That's some wish, Archibald. Have you been eating a vocabulary sandwich?" I ask, surprised at Archie's unusually high-class speech. Archie Bald, the old bartender smiles and drops the charade. "Been readin' Fifty Shades of Neigh, Darky. Guessed some of those classy ladies might appreciate bit of style in ol' dusty bag o' bones like me." My jaw drops when Void decides to solve this one. "To my knowledge, mister Archibald, there is no highborne lady that would not swoon over the eloquence you are presenting. Please be so kind and extend our gratitude to the gentlecolt who sent us these delightful beverages." That'a bit too much for a novice wordsmith like Archie but even he is able to decipher Void's surprisingly sincere and pleasant tone. Our stares lock and we both look at Void who downs an entire glass of Blind Monk in one gulp, expecting his head to explode. Void grins when he sees the gaping holes where our mouths used to be. "I may not look like it but I am certainly the toughest kind of stallion you will ever meet. Do not worry though, my words about high class ladies were completely sincere. Another Blind Monk please." "Y-yes, sir." Archie leaves, afraid that his old heart might not make it through another shock. At the moment I feel exactly the same. "That was unexpectedly... nice of you," I say carefully. "What do you mean?" "I just thought that somepony intent on killing princess Celestia who speaks like a scholar textbook would be a total nutcase." "I have never said I was going to kill Celestia." "Then what do you want with her?" "Let us say that teaching her a lesson she will not forget might suffice." "That doesn't sound too ambitious." "She does not age. Having her remember something forever is not an easy feat." The proper term for a pony would be scarred for life and I can't even begin to imagine what would have to happen to scar an immortal in such way. Void doesn't seem inclined to start another topic by himself so when the silence becomes slightly too uncomfortable I decide to satisfy my curiosity. "How many alicorns are there anyway?" "There used to be quite a few of us but most have already left this world." "Dead?" "Some are, in a sense, others just... left." "Sorry if I stirred bad memories." "It is fine. One thing an immortal learns unpleasantly early is coping with loss." The thoughts blaming me for Blaze's death come back when he says that and I realize again that my revenge will probably just hurt countless others. And it will still not bring Blaze back. Void puts his hooves over mine. "It will get better with time," he says with a sad smile. He knows what I'm thinking about. "I don't want to just forget him. You said he loved me but I can't say the same... and he died because of me. I'm a horrible pony. I just used him most of the time without giving anything back." "Blazing Light decided to do all he did by himself and that is why he died, do not assume the world revolves around you. Now let me ask you a question - do you think Blazing Light was stupid?" "No. He was way smarter than me and a good judge of character... except for himself." "Then how do you think you managed to manipulate him?" "I-he let me?" "Yes. He said himself that every time you'd, as you say, used him was the happiest time of his life because he believed he was needed and still he managed to lie to himself that you were just a friend to him." Trying not to begin sobbing gets harder and harded with each of Void's words. "Why?" "He was absolutely certain that he didn't deserve you even as an acquaintance." With my face in my hooves, I just hear Archie refilling our glasses. "Why are you telling me this?" "You asked." "Couldn't you have lied to me?" "As I have told you before - I am many things but not a liar, mostly because truth is so much more interesting." "Tell me one thing then, mister infinitely experienced. Would we have made a good couple?" "That is uncertain but I know his type. They usually end up either alone or with some type of ice queen who controls their every breath and treats them like dirt which reinforces their conviction that they are world's trash and deserve whatever misery they get. Blazing Light was that type." His analysis is the only thing I've heard him say in a different tone than his eternally calm one. "So... no hope at all?" "There is always hope. Sometimes these ponies find a partner who truly loves them but that still does not mean smooth sailing. Their self-hate can transfer to the other and bring out the abusive side from one of them as those who do not believe in themselves cannot believe in others. Then there is the possibility that even with a good partner, the insecure one might find it impossible to fight through it and their partner will leave them eventually because nopony can have endless patience." "That doesn't sound good." "It is not good. That kind of problem is not a one to be dealt with easily. I have seen some of these situations end well though. If they love one another and manage to work through their fears then their reward is a partner for life who genuinely loves them and will stay with them as long as fate allows it." His dreamy, inwards smile spreads a bit of warmth in me when I notice. "Speaking from experience?" I ask the alicorn. "Partially. I DO have a past as well." "Oh?" "Nothing. Another Blind Monk?" "Sure. No idea what Archie puts into it but it's not bad for a coctail." To my surprise, it's not Archie who arrives with our next round of drinks but a muscular earthpony I don't know, probably not one of the regulars. His attention is fixed on Void who blinks under the assault of alcohol crystalizing on the earthpony's breath turning the flame of the candle on our table blue. "Hey 'miss'. So I've heard you're the toughest around, care to make a bet?" asks the earthpony and hiccups. Void just roll his eyes. "No, but I guess that is insignificant to you. What do you want?" "Just a little bit of hoof wrestling among us 'stallions'." "I see no harm in that. What about the bet?" "Oh right. If you lose, then we have here a nice outfit for a missy like you which you'll have to wear until Archie closes this place tonight." I facehoof. Time to hide under the table and wait for the world to end in a huge explosion. "Alright, but if I win you pay for all our drinks. AND you will be waiting on ponies in said costume," Void accepts the challenge. "You're on! Come with me and we'll start." Thankful for Void's self-control I just keep sitting at our table when they leave. His words gave me some closure I sort of needed. Who am I kidding? I desperately needed that. Still, I might not be thinking clearly and painting Blaze as some kind of hero to myself... or I missed a chance of a lifetime. Doesn't matter now, does it? "CELESTIA'S GAPING PLOTHOLE!" is a shout that pierces my alcohol fueled thoughts. A chant begins before I can see what's going on. "PUT IT ON! PUT IT ON!" Turning to the source of happy cheering, I snicker at the sight of Void putting on a maid outfit. His deep voice really doesn't belong in it. Thankfully, the drunks don't seem to have a problem with his blackfire accessories. "You are going to get pasted by the most adorable tough guy you will ever meet," is the threat of the black-burning male alicorn maid.