A Dark Shade of the Past

by InfinityBreach

What is Friendship?

The ponies sat in the middle of the throne room, pondering over what happened. "Did you see what that guy looked like?" Rainbow Dash said.

"Well I got a look at him, but it was pretty dark in there. I only remember his weird eyes, and the fact that he was an Alicorn." Twilight answered.

"Ah don't know bout cha ponies, but I'm about fixin to go apologize to Celestia mahself." Applejack stated.

"She sounded so angry…" Fluttershy whispered.

"You heard the Princess before though! The Elements of Harmony aren't able to harm anypony!" Pinkie Pie added.

"That is true… but still, his entire wing was gone, and he looked like he was in a lot of pain." Twilight muttered.

"Maybe we should just ask Celestia of this when she is done making sure he is okay." Rarity stated.

On cue, the Princess herself walked out, with an emotionless look on her face. Twilight was about to say something, but Celestia interrupted her. "He is fine girls, he will pull through, though I doubt he will be coming back anytime soon. All of you can go back to Ponyville, or stay here at the castle, but right now I need time to myself."

Then Celestia walked through another door, everypony watching her leave.

"Well, now what?" Rainbow asked. They all looked at eachother, not knowing what to do.

"Maybe we should all git on back to Ponyville and leave Celestia with herself." Applejack said. They all silently agreed, and began their trek back to Ponyville, while Twilight had a lingering thought.

'If that pony was an Alicorn like Luna and Celestia, why haven't I heard of him before…?'

Celestia stood in the glass history hall, looking from window to window. She finally stopped, looking up at the ceiling. She sighed to herself, and began to think. 'There isn't much I can do to stop this… I shouldn't tell Luna about what happened either, or else things could fly into chaos, just like last time.'

Remembering that the throne room was still partially destroyed, she headed down there, hoping nopony would interrupt her. She trotted her way into the room, looking at the massive hole in the wall. She sighed once again, and with a flash of her magic, everything in the room was restored.

She looked about the room once more, and remembered the past. The six of them, always playing together here, before it was even a castle. All of them accepting each other's weaknesses and strengths at their full value, and being the best of friends, despite how different they were. She then walked right in between the thrones that sat there, and pressed her hoof on the middle of the picture that expanded across the floor.

The ground began to open up, leading to a stairway that spiraled downwards. She simply opened her wings, and floated down.

Landing gracefully at the end of the stairs, she looked around the area. It was covered in cobwebs, and was extremely dark. However, she was still able to make out everything in the room, just by memory.

The friendship they had was one that was destroyed. Celestia widened her eyes as she heard voices from her past taunting her mind.

"You've taught me something invaluable, Celestia. Friendship is powerless. There is no point to it, other than pain and suffering. The only way to fill up that void of despair is with laughter."

"Celestia… why? I thought we were family. I trusted you! I was loyal to you!"

"Celestia, I have met you with nothing but kindness, so listen. If you keep this up, this world will not head to the way of harmony, as you always pursue."

"I know what you're trying to do, hiding the truth from the public! He was my best friend.. no. He was my love, and you did this to him!"

"You know me… I'm nothing but nice and generous to all of you… please…don't destroy me.. I don't want to die."

That last voice rang in her head, and has been haunting her to this very day.

"I don't want to die."

She thought back on how foolish she was. She assumed since the Elements were powered by their friendship, that they would never hurt one of them, just vanquish the negativeness from them.

She silently weeped to herself and, not knowing what else to do, headed back to her room. After closing the floor, she began her descent up the stairs. When she arrived in the hallway, she heard her sister's voice. "Celestia! Are you okay? I heard there was a strange explosion from the castle, but I haven't seen anything strange."

Celestia, without turning to her sister, said, "It was just a fireworks mishap. It has all been dealt with already. Now I will be retiring to my room for the night. See you in the morning." Then quickly walked to her room, shutting the door behind her, leaving a confused Luna outside.

Celestia then fell onto her bed, and collapsed into a pile of tears. Her regrets for a thousand years echoed throughout her mind. After she had cried her eyes out, she had one last thought after she fell asleep.

Friendship really is nothing.