//------------------------------// // In Midnight Shadows // Story: A Simple Story // by Sabellion //------------------------------// Princess Luna stepped across the moonlit waters of the void, reeling with stars and pillars of neon gas. Whispers echoed, reverberating, glowing as her hooves danced across the images of the dreamers, rippling out. She paused, swinging her head around as she watched them, felt them stir. This was her home, her garden of sanguine shadows-and it was being disturbed by something terrible that crackled and popped with hectic red energy. She lifted her wings and jumped across, following the anguish and terror that gripped her. This nightmare was of pain, anger, fear, and regret. Her horn began to glow as she descended through the waters, the familiar tingle running through her body. She landed on the hard ground. The rocks were dark and sheet like, spreading out around her. There were figures running towards the center of the dream, but out here they were fuzzy, blurred creatures of grey light. She moved ever closer to the source, the sounds of battle screeching around her. The smell of sulphur, smoke and blood infiltrated her nostrils, and the once euphoric taste of fear lingered in the air. She closed her eyes as she summoned her weapons to her side. This was not just any nightmare- no there were far too many details, far too many little things that put her on edge. This was a memory. Her blade swept side to side, cutting through the figures that now gained form and substance but were merely clouds. Each sheen of its fel blade echoing. Finally she could get the glimpse of this dreamer. Her heart skipped a beat. The undeniable figure of Spike stood alone, over the body of a small grey pony. Blood pooled about his body, matting his mane and splattered over Spike. The dragon had his teeth bared, his claws at the ready as he hunkered over him, protecting him. He snarled as another dragon jumped at him-and Spike bit his throat, ripping it out, a blanket of blood wrapping around the stunned dragon as it grasped its wound. Its eyes were pleading, holding the flesh that now only clung from loose skin to its face once more, a gurgle and fire issued forth from the wound and it was no more. Another jumped, this one he knocked away, but it scurried to its feet once more and circled. They all circled, watching, waiting, licking their cruel smiles. Spike snarled, rivulets of smoke now circling around his head from between his crimson teeth. “Spike.” Luna said as she finally came upon him. She was being moved too now, circling with the dragons. Her form was shifting like theirs, but again she called. “Spike!” His pupils widened ever so slightly, eyes darting before he shook his head and hunkered down once more. Another jumped at him. Luna’s horn glowed with its soft blue magic as it grabbed the dragon and threw him away. Spike still in mid snarl watched as its body was flung to the side and dissipated. “Spike, breathe.” Luna whispered as the shadows stilled and parted, letting her walk through them. “Princess Luna?” Spike said, eyes wide. His voice was low and rumbling. “It is I.” Luna said, smiling as the world began to fade. Spike looked beneath him as the grey pony dissolved away too. They stood alone in Luna’s garden. “Then this is a dream.” Spike said, watching as the stars flew over head. His muscles were still rigid, his right claws tensed, ready to strike. “Yes, and I mean you no harm.” Spike blinked before breathing deeply and relaxing his muscles. “I’m sorry.” “You need not apologize to me, Spike.” Luna said. Her senses tingled now with dark energy-while the anger and fear were gone, the pain in his heart still lashed out at her. She approached him, and he stood, bringing her eyes to hers. “But whom do you really need to apologize to?” “What?” Spike said, eyes focusing once again. “Spike, this is my realm. The emotions of my subjects are fed to me through it-and I feel your anguish. What troubles you?” Spike looked down at the non-existent ground. Luna’s horn glowed as the world itself was pulled away, the stars turning into bars of white light, changing the world into a dark city street, full of rain. “Where are we, Spike?” Luna said. Spike looked around as he fell to the ground, trying to push himself away. He began to hyperventilate. “No...please…” Spike whispered. “Spike?” Luna said as she drew closer to him. “Not again-I can’t, not again. Please, please.” He begged, curling into a ball, letting the rain rush down his scales. Luna watched as a door down the street opened, a beautiful unicorn mare rushing out. The rain barely seemed to touch her, her mane coiled and sparkled, her eyes were diamonds, and even Luna felt beneath her, undeserving of her attention. She was far too beautiful and perfect. “Rarity.” Luna whispered as her horn glowed. Another Spike appeared, cowering in the rain. His form was all shadows, all darkness. His eyes were glowing with deep fire, all red and sharp edges. She approached him, and he swung about.         “I’m sorry.” the monster whispered, but the edges of his voice whispered. No...never sorry. “For everything.”         “Spike...” Luna shivered. Rarity's voice was melodies unheard of, every syllable a song. He moved to kiss her. “Please! No more. No more, not again.” Spike said, breaking from his pitiful ball on the floor. He tugged on Luna’s forelegs, eyes wide and white. The world slowed, as she looked down at him. Rarity was turning him away, pushing him. Words of hate spewed forth. She’d seen enough. That world faded away, falling into nothingness and they were back in the stars. She turned to the sobbing dragon on the ground. She lay beside him, draping a wing over him as she nudged him. He turned towards her, grasping her fur, crying. “My dear Spike, whatever did they do to you?” Luna said as she nuzzled him. She let him lay there until he recomposed himself, eyes red. “I don’t deserve her.” Spike said, “Not after what I’ve done.” “What did you do, Spike?” “Didn’t you see?” Spike said, :”I lied to her, I manipulated her, I tried-” “Is that how you remember that night?” Luna said. “I...I don’t know anymore. All the pain I caused..I…” Luna brought her head underneath his and rubbed his neck, reveling in his warmth. “I know how it feels, Spike. The regret, the pain, the anguish.” “You do?” “You remember my fall, my redemption.” Luna said, “For many years after, I tormented myself. I created a terrible thing, named the Tantibus. It...was my punishment. I deserved no rest for what I had done, no forgiveness.” “Neither do I.” Spike said. “Melodrama does not fit well to your form, young one.” Luna said, as she nudged him. “Pray tell, why do you think this?” “I...I…” Spike stuttered. Eyes closed, he pushed away from her. “I was supposed to be a perfect gentlecolt. I was supposed to be the perfect stallion. But...look what I did. I near forced myself upon her. I became enraged, bitter, and when that failed…” The dragon hadn’t the strength to continue his thought as he brought his claws to his face, talons digging into his scales. Luna parted them, but his gaze was cast downward towards the nonexistent floor upon which they sat. “You’re right.” Luna said. Spike’s eyes darted back up to her, surprised. “What? I-” “We will not say that what you did was right, Spike.” Luna said, “For it was not.” “I know.” Spike said. “But you must remember that we all make mistakes. And we all deserve forgiveness, even if we cannot give it unto ourselves.” Luna said. “I said that I deserved no forgiveness for my actions.” “Yeah…” Spike said. “And I would venture that my actions as Nightmare Moon, realized or not, were far worse in intention than yours.” “I guess?” Spike said. “Yet here I am. Freed from the nightmare that I cast upon myself.” Luna said, “Others have chosen to remember me and forgive me for the good that I have brought, not the evil.” “But you’re a princess.” Spike said, “It’s different.” “And you are a dragon.” Luna said, “We are more alike than either of us are to regular ponies. By your fire, my magic, your wings and mine and the combined lifespans that will last for eons past all others, we are the same.” “But how can I forgive myself for what I’ve done?” Spike said, “You said it yourself, it was wrong. I was wrong.” “All have been wrong, and all have made mistake.” Luna said, “Seek forgiveness, ask for pardon from those wronged. When you see her again, make this known. Strive to be that which you thought you were before, but this time, remember your weaknesses. Your faults.” “But I can’t be that which I want to be.” Spike said. “I’m...just a dragon.” “True, and as one, rage, cruelty, and the will to dominate is strong within you.” Luna said, “As I am the night, and darkness, jealousy, and hate within me. Neither of us will ever be without these. But we can be more than that.” “Then what do I do?” Luna smiled, as she nuzzled him as though he was a foal. “Rely upon your friends, and your heart to guide to you. I could not have been saved without that, and you can too. Even when all others fade, dear Spike, I will be there for you.” “I think I understand.” Spike said, as he wrapped his arms around her. “Thank you. For everything.” “It will never be a problem, little one.” Luna said. She gazed off into the horizon as gold and white light began to appear. Her mane fluttered and floated around them as she wrapped her neck around his torso. “But dawn approaches. Take ease, and know that I am watching.” When the dragon first saw the light of day, he felt….better.