//------------------------------// // They and Me... // Story: The Darkness // by steel soul //------------------------------// What followed for Dusk Shine, after the most awkward greeting in his short lifetime, was a series of questions so obscure; so invasive; that he couldn’t help but admire each and every last one of them, despite the fact that both he and the mare were getting more and more creep out the longer their question and answer session went on. It had started out simple enough at first for both of the lavender ponies. Their names were different, but that was a given. So were the names of many of the ponies they knew...well...except for Applejack. That was more then surpiseing to the both of them. Still...that was where the differences stopped. More and more, with each question answered, both ponies would answer eerily the same. As the mare dove deeper into the array of questions she had on hoof, the more intrusive they became. And the more intrusive they became the more she seemed to hesitate with asking her next question. The same could be said with Dusk Shine, as he became more and more afraid the more personal the questions became. Still, they pressed onwards. Their inner scientist pushing both unicorns forwards. After what seemed to be the hundredth of so question, the mare quickly excused herself and promptly left the room, leaving the stallion to his own thoughts. His thoughts, however, seemed to yield nothing but question after question. “Those questions...they seemed…most of them seemed to have no real them after a while. They were uniform at first, sticking to one subject before moving to the next, but then it almost seemed like she wasn't reading from her notes at all." His eyes darted from the side to side, running solution after solution within his mind. “Ok, Dusk Shine, ok. Think, think, think! Come on! There has to be a reasonable explanation for all of this!! Why she looks like me! Why I haven't seen any of my friends!” The deeper he dove to find the answers, however, the more and more an impossible one popped into his mind. One of which He sorely wished was not true. His logic had never failed him before though…well…except that time with Berry Bubble, but logic always failed him when it came to that colt. Still, the answer he kept coming up with made him shiver to his core. He didn’t want to accept it, he refused to accept it. But it was the answer that pointed to the most popular conclusion. He was started by a gentle knock to the door. He waited for somepony to enter right after but instead got yet another knock, this more a little more forceful but all the same just as gentle. Wait...are they...? But they can't be...can they? "Um, come...in?" The stallion said after a brief slip into hesitation. With the turn of the knob, the door pushed open, and the sight of the one on the other side nearly caught his breath away. A pristine white pony slowly slipped into the room, their rainbow like mane flowing endlessly as if it had a life of its own. Both awe and dread seemed to creep into his fragile mind, even more so when the pony gave him a gentle smile. He watched as the mare slowly made her way to the side of the bed, gently placing her hunches on the floor before looking down at him with both curious and kind eyes. “You must be Dusk Shine…I’m I correct.” Dusk nodded dumbly, words completely failing him at that point. Her voice soothed his soul as she spoke, releasing a bit of the tension he felt “It is a pleasure young Shine. I am Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria. From what I understand, you had a bit of a mishap from a manticore.” Dusk nodded again. “Is that how you and your little dragon friend got hurt?” For the first time since her appearance, Dusk spoke. “N-No…I…we…I…” He trailed off; as he looked into her eyes those eyes he had seen only in one other pony, a pony he had loved as a father. “You…You remind me of…of…” He began to shiver as dread began to overtake him. “But…If she is…and you are…then…I…Oh Solaris! It was wrong! It was all wrong!” His head fell into his hooves. “I didn’t know! I…I didn’t know!” Celestia gave the colt a concerned frown. “Dusk…Please calm down…” “I can’t!” He snapped. “I…I messed up! I’ve failed! It’s my fault! I should have known and I didn’t! I’ve failed and now…now…I…” His eyes widened at a feeling seeping into his mind. He tried to counter but it was too late, magic gently washed over his mind. He looked up to find the concerned gaze of Celestia looking down at him, her eyes still holding nothing but kindness in them. “I am sorry Dusk…Sleep for now…Gain your strength and sleep…” Dusk eyes drooped as he fell back on to the pillow, the sleep spell quickly taking effect. Without another word he slipped on into a deep, dreamless sleep. ~ Twilight jumped as the door to the strange stallion’s room opened. Her heart calmed as she found that it was Princess Celestia making her way back into the hallway. "Princess! Your okay...I was...Ah...A little worried when I started to hear yelling." "I am fine my Student, worry not. Dusk on the other hoof is not. I put a sleeping spell on him so that he could calm down. I am sure, with the state that he is in, he needed his rest more then anything." Celestia looked down towards Twilight. "Twilight, I need you to watch over him until he wakes up. He...I believe that he will have come to terms with his situation by that time." "Situation? What do you mean Princess? Isn't he just a crazy stallion dressed up as me?" Celestia shook her head. "My dear Twilight, there are many things in which I have felt you were not ready for. This stallion, I fear, is one of those things." At Twilight's questioning gaze the sun princess gave her a gentle smile. "You will learn in time Twilight, that the world is more then what you see before you. For now, take care of our guest please. I'm sure we will learn of who he really is and what he wants in time." Celestia looked over towards the window, the light of Luna's moon shining on the dark night below. "And pray that whatever caused him such pain has been put to rest."