When darkness finally took hold of the land, suffocating the firestorm, the Goddess of the Night existed no more.
My mind locked onto an image. It was me, as a small foal, standing in front of a pile of books, smiling like only a little colt could. To my left, Amanita in her mint maned pony form, stood with her shoulders up and her head down, so that shadows marred some of her face. Her tip of her hoof swivelled on the ground. Mum stood behind me, hoof over my shoulder and an easy smile on her face. Her wings, things that I only seen in pictures, rested on her back. Spike's claw covered the top part of the picture in a hazy blackness. As my mind faded, I focused on our smiles, even Amanita's awkward one.
We were happy.
I had my revenge. I had rid the earth of evil. Should I not feel happy again? I had fulfilled everything I desired! Why did I feel so empty, as if I left a job unfinished?
I examined Twilight's face. She bore no concern or ill will to the Changeling standing mere inches next to her. In fact, she had her only foal right next to her. Twilight, leader of Ponies, trusted her!
We should all look past our petty squabbles and celebrate that which makes us different.
Mother's words. Oh, I could still remember the softness of her voice and the love in her eyes as she helped me board the train from Ponyville. We go to a land of tunnels, gems and big, cuddly, furry doggies. No more hiding from the Sun. And don't worry, Auntie Amanita is coming with us!
I wonder what she would think of me now. Blinded by hate, I killed in her name. Did I even look at her plans to build a better world?
That feeling intensified. It nagged at me, distracting my train of thought. Why would it not let me die in peace?
I saw the giant poster behind them. "The Vault Initiative," written in bright letters at the top, detailed their entire plan, all of which I remembered--or, at least, I got the gist of. I saw the scrawl of paint in the bottom section. "Pretty pictures for all," it said in dripping yellow paint. I wrote that. The murals, they were my idea!
I had always been part of the better future...and all I did was lust for destruction. I used Mother, and Celestia as an excuse to make this world worse. And I incited a rebellion! How much blood was really on my hooves?
No. I was not happy...I had lived my life for a false cause! And now it was too late. I was dying. Oh, Celestia, you cruel mistress.
The feeling of incompleteness turned to pain. Why would it not let me die?
"He's still here," said an almost incomprehensible voice.
What's happening?
"Get away. I'm bringing him back."
The pain was like a continuous cramp in my chest. Bringing who back from where?
It got worse. It felt like Amanita had stabbed me again. Oh please Celestia, Priestess-of-Pain, stop it. Have I not been tortured enough?
My head swam in its skull and I could have sworn that my hooves were made of rock. I howled at the sudden spark of pain. My chest was on fire! Many hooves held me to the hard, unyielding surface. "Please," I said. My voice sounded so weak and dry. Oh no, I was a Changeling! Kill me!
"And he's back," said the mysterious, yet familiar voice. "Now, please would you kindly stop harassing me; I have less maniacal ponies to attend to."
"Thanks, Doc," That was Lily's voice! Oh sweet mercy!
I cracked an eye open, and saw two ponies staring over me. Flood Gate and Lily, my workmates. My comrades. My friends. I was alive!
Suddenly, my abused stomach turned, but I had nothing left to empty. Where's the ceiling? There's only darkness! Help me!
It took me far too long to realise that the ceiling was just really high. I was in the courtyard to the Palace. I must have fallen...
I tried to sit up, but they held me down firmly.
"Whoa kiddo," said Flood Gate, his stupid hairy chin-mess dangling over my belly, "Calm down. You've been through hell..."
"...and you smell like you have too!" piped in Lily.
"I...I'm sorry," I said, my mouth feeling loose and my tongue lax.
"For what," smiled Flood Gate, "Your little hissy fit?"
"...Or for sparking a revolution and getting many Ponies and Dogs killed?" said Lily, beaming. "We're fine by the way."
Flood Gate pushed her back, his smile never leaving his maw. "Don't worry; I think we can live, Dog Slayer."
I stared back wide eyed and a little confused. I tried to sit up again, but was forced back to the ground. Oh Celestia, it felt like something had ripped out my entire chest. I wish I could see. My hooves also itched, but any attempt to scratch it was thwarted by my so called friends.
Something nagged at me. "The Dogs?" I asked.
"Fled into the Under-Warrens."
And the big question. "Amanita? Is she here?"
"Who?" asked Flood Gate.
I coughed. Blood splattered my own face. "Changeling..."
"That thing? It's all tied up. We told it that if you died, we'd do the same to it as it did to you. Seemed to upset it somewhat. "
"Bring her to me," I said. "Please," I quickly added.
"Right-o boss."
Boss?
Lily prodded my side. My scream filled the cavern. "That's for slamming Floody into a wall, you jerk," she whispered.
"Damn you to Tartarus, Lily!" I shouted.
She giggled. "Hey, Mr-Revolutionary-Leader-Pony, I don't think one in your position should be talking like that!" she said. She shook her head with an exasperated tut, "Twilight Sparkle's son. You kept that one quiet."
I heard the snuffling sounds of ponies straining. "Let me go!" My ears swivelled as I heard the scratchy voice of Amanita-as-Changeling.
"Shut it, bug," said Flood with a tone that actually sounded menacing.
I expected one or two ponies to appear, but soon, through careful movements that did not provoke the restraining hooves, I realised a crowd had gathered around me. Ponies of all three races mobbed me in a sea of pastel colours. I heard mutterings of, "He's alive!" and, "That's the Dog-Slayer!" bounce off the extraordinarily high pillars.
But, in front of me, I realised a small group, led by Amanita, were prodded in front of me. Amanita's gaze was strong, defiant even, as she stood defensively in front of a group of scared-looking ponies and...Changelings. She had found her Brothers then.
"Amanita," I gasped. "You stabbed me."
"I did what I had to do," she said. I detected more than a hint of guilt in her voice.
"But you stabbed me..."
She tensed up. "Y-Yes I did."
The fire returned to me along with the thump of my heart. I found my blood swirl around my tired limbs and my gaze harden.
I stamped out that flame.
"I would have probably done that to me as well," I said, putting on the biggest grin I could, although it probably came out as more of a twitch. That silenced my audience! I took a deep breath, and another. My body just felt so heavy.
"I want to start again," I said. "I want to make the Vault Initiative work properly this time."
That stunned my prisoner. Her mouth opened and closed uselessly.
"Therefore, I want you set free. You only acted in defence of something worth defending."
I saw the first genuine smile line Amanita's face.
I continued, forcing my eyes to remain open. "I want a new Alpha to be chosen for the Dogs. And I want us to wash away the blood, abandon all our hate, and work together.
"It is time, I think that the Magic of Friendship returned to this broken world. That's what Mum would want. That's what Celestia and Luna would want.
"From now on. We work as one...as friends, not as a herd, not as a hive, or as a pack, but as all three. It is our similarities that bind us together and our differences that makes us strong. Without each other, we will fade away.
"And one day, we will find our way back to the surface. One day, we will return the Sun to its rightful place. On that, you have my word."
With my piece said, I fell into a welcome slumber. Tomorrow would be another night, and that night would be the first step to something glorious.