The dark sky whispered beautiful songs of renewing life, the darkness was put off by the beautiful moon that shined brightly in the sky. All of this complimented her beautiful flowing mane.
“I am confident that we can root out the problem. I just doubt that Shadow will come back… and I doubt he is even trustworthy if ever he does…”
Luna let out a soft sigh signifying her deep thoughts. “We do not believe this was a coincidence. I know your heart is right… We see who you are and I know you hold nothing from us. But we ask of you, please have the same faith… I will come to know my new children. Fate did not lead Shadow Strider to us without reason…”
Her words echoed as her image faded and Waking’s eyes batted, The smell of old cookies and wolves woke him. He sat up, He was to enjoy the rest of her beautiful night and wait until she welcomed her new children.
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The other children would not let up. She could hear their jeers and tears flowed from her eyes. Wiping egg from her mane Cookie sniffled, the other children spared no expense at reminding her of her parents deaths. That her wings proved she was something that did not belong.
“Go back to the night freak!” The pain shot straight to her soul. They stole her food, her blankets, put tacks on her bed. Not even the adults wanted to have her around. She could feel the tears streaking down her face as she ran through the woods at night. She ran so fast and so far, but she could still hear their voices, feel them pulling on her wings.
To be different was wrong, it meant you didn't belong. Pain and loss was the punishment for not being like everypony else. She wanted more than anything to have pretty feathery wings, but alas even seeing herself with feathers was beyond her, all she could see was their laughing faces, all she could hear was their accusing hateful voices. She cuddled into a heap pained and scared. She couldn’t even remember her mother’s voice just the soft smell of cookies. But here even that was tainted.
She saw them coming closer, their eyes seething with hate, their mouths filled with anger. She did not belong. To be different was wrong. She was wrong.
“ENOUGH!!” The seething darkness shattered, the pain washed away with the sickly darkness. Their faces were gone and a hoof pulled her in. A warm loving embrace. Cookie could not cry. Somepony else was crying for her, taking her pain and holding her close. All Cookie could see was a soft beautiful blue of a noble form. Soft feathered wings scooped around her and a glowing horn continued to tear away at the hate and the pain until she could not even remember what it felt like.
“Cry not child. you are here with us, and you are loved… my precious beautiful Cookie, you don't have to hurt anymore. You belong to the night… and the night belongs to us, nopony will EVER hurt you again…”
Cookie looked up. Her drying eyes could see finally. All she saw was her mother’s face. she cuddled deeper into the soft blue coat and she could smell it. Her mother’s smell. She heard her mother’s heartbeat. It didn't matter who or what happened before. The past did not exist anymore. Her mother held her and at that moment that is the ONLY thing that would ever matter.
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Dart tried to duck but the training weapon swatted him square in the face. “Too slow! You can’t farm, you can’t fight, for the love of the night you cannot even cook. What in Tartarus are you good for?”
His father loomed over him as his brothers laughed. Even his younger brother had his mark already. Combat was the way of the Abyssal house. Set apart from the other bat pony tribes, the Abyssal house and its vassals had tamed Dark Island, they found comradery with the storm spirit that lived here. They were masters of the night. All but one. Even the most disappointing of vassals had mastered the first tier combat forms after two years. This was Dart’s third year of training and he kept tripping over himself. His oversized wings threw him off balance every time, his sharp eyes picked out the blow far before it happened yet every time he flinched. Every time he would fail. Of all of his father’s sons, and his Father’s Vassals and their sons, Dart was the most well known failure of all Dark Island.
He could feel the bruises that cast over his limbs over the years. Hear his father’s disappointed sighs until he was deemed so unworthy he would not even be permitted to see his father. Nopony on the island would even talk to him, not even the pegasi in vassal house Chime. It was painful to be alone, but the bit that hurt the most was his utter lack of potential. It did not matter who or what he came to. His father was right, the best he could be was a meat shield for somepony more important. He looked back at his awkwardly oversized wings. A thousand times over in his head he remembered the actions of that night. He picked up the polearm again just like before. His wings extended and he shivered. Tears seeped from his eyes. “These damned wings… they make me weak… father... weakness is a curse… it is… then…” His body quivered like a coward and tears touched the ground. “...Why can’t I remove my weakness?”
“Those are very beautiful wings… if your father will not have you then let us have you…” He turned quickly looking at the new comer. The pain and rejection was gone. As if his father no longer existed.
“W-What…?” He looked forward, she was not from the island. Nopony from house Chime was that beautiful. And furthermore she had a horn as well as wings. He had never seen this before.
“We are saying, your wings, they are beautiful. And your blood is noble, if your foolish family is willing to overlook such potential and refuse you glory that is your birthright… then come, be mine, you are strong whether that stubborn mule wants to believe it or not. Those wings are your strength… a fool who cannot understand what real power is will surely look upon your potential and spit. But a fool is a fool.”
Her voice was majestic. She was beautiful and her very pose struck him as a sign of majesty and power. “Y-You… want me...? But… I’m weak… I am a coward… I ran... I ran from home because I was worthless. I achieved NOTHING but deluded dreams of being everything I am not.”
“Worth is not determined by you… nor is it determined by a fool who cannot see past his own muzzle. Come, we care not the opinions of the weak, fly with me and we will be the apex of the night. You have value, you are one of my children and as such you are precious to me even if the blind continue to choose blindness over who you really are. Your dreams mean everything and more to us.” Dart’s heart warmed and a smile came to his face. This was not Dark Island but it most certainly was home.
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An eye opened calmly, there was not even a noise other than Cookie smacking her lips in a happy dream and Dart’s steady breathing. “Impressive, I honestly thought you were just some lowly guard for those passing fads of a royal excuse…” Shadow’s form gave up on stealth and he landed dropping his boxes.
“You did not exactly make it hard carrying 80 lbs of cookies, Honestly I am just surprised that she was right, but I am glad you are true to your word, however, I am not sure that is a safe amount… that little filly is a monster of surprises and she might just be able to eat more than that…” Waking laughed as Shadow retained his soft grim featureless stare. “Right. Well, I will let the others know you are back… but I have somepony else to let know of your arrival, give me a moment would you?”
Shadow starred not letting his confusion show as Waking closed his eyes and his head nodded gently into slumber.
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Returning into the same Ethereal world he was so used to he was somewhat surprised to see her smiling so brightly. “Your majesty… um.. he is-”
“Waking…! Manners! We are having a royal tea party…” He looked at Luna with a great deal of confusion before panning over to see Cookie giving him a death stare, her nose scrunched up as if she could glare into his soul for interrupting her precious tea time.
Dart fidgeted. “Honestly Cookie, I don't see how I am supposed to hold these cups. I mean I’m going to be a knight… not really a tea and crumpets sort of stallion...” Both Luna’s and Cookie’s wings came into a playful swat over Dart’s head. This brought a smile to his face and a chuckle to his lips as he tilted the cup up to take a sip.
“...We know of him, yes… please let him know We are ready to see him Waking. He is of the night, and he will know his Princess whether he is to meet us in love… or fear.”
Waking nodded and bowed as he left.
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His eyes opening again he stood and smiled. “Well Shadow… its your turn. Our Princess awaits to meet with you, do not lie or cower, she knows you inside and out. The night is her domain, whatever is in your past… she will know you and you will be accepted.”
Shadow’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Do not think you know me soldier... and do not pretend she will either…” His eyes flickered as ancient magic flared inside him. She was calling to him. Soon he gave in willingly. If she wanted to see him so damned badly why not give her a good long look.
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Blood. All there was here was blood. In his eyes in his mouth, the taste, the smell, the feel of it. His father lay in pieces, his mother had just stopped breathing. He could feel the heated metal hooked prongs pushing past his skin. He knew what happened next. Fear and pain but unlike most others, he knew it too well. A grin plastered across his face as he altered the dream forcefully. Tearing free the twisted darkness was met with his own dark powers to match. There was no words to describe the horrors that even his young form performed in this forced dream.
Her glossy hooves dipped gently into the blood as his small form was left heaving. In anger. Tears streamed from his eyes. If only he was this strong back then. His power was not in his body. “There... have you seen enough…? Is this what you wanted…?”
Her sorrow filled eyes looked at him. He felt it and it tore away at his soul. She was supposed to be afraid, supposed to be sickened. He was a monster, the only thing that could beat the darkness was an even darker shadow. He was that shadow.
“SAY SOMETHING!!! This is what you wanted isn’t it…? Are you not enjoying yourself…? SPEAK!!! Go ahead, like all the others… tell me what I am… tell me who I am…”
His soul snapped and cracked. She was not afraid, nor was she sickened. Her eyes were filled with tears. “Our… beautiful… child… we do not lay blame at your hooves, darkness created you, darkness of the soul. We care not what foul taint wants to claim you… You belong to the night, and we ARE the night, we love you for who you are...”
Her hoof gently touched his young colt face. “Scars and all.”