Sometime later
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow called as she landed just outside the door. She knocked once before punching the door open and letting herself in. The mentioned Pegasus was standing at the top of the stairs looking down when Rainbow burst in. "Hey, you ready yet?" Dash asked shaking her wings in excitement.
"Almost Rainbow. Can uh can you wait just a second if you don't mind?" Fluttershy asked shrinking a little but Rainbow's laugh made her perk up a bit.
"Shy its fine. Do whatever." Rainbow said jumping and plopping on the couch, though the action made her wince.
Fluttershy smiled and slowly trotted down the stairs with a bowl of feed in her mouth. Rainbow couldn't stop herself from glancing over at Fluttershy. The yellow Pegasus's wings were still weak, the doctors had told them when they left but they were better now than they were before. Rainbow remembered the way she could almost see the bone in shy's wings that day in the hospital, ripped apart so bad even Rainbow had cried at the sight. Now they were looking better, the feathers already growing back, of course they were little more than fuzz like on a baby chick but they were coming back, she had even managed to fly again! A slow unsteady glide through her home than ended with a crash on the couch but it was something.
Fluttershy poured the feed from one birdhouse to another humming to herself as she worked. In a few minutes she set the bag down and walked to her saddle bags slinging them over her back before turning to Rainbow Dash and giggling. "Are you ready Dash?"
Rainbow jumped with a snort and rolled off the couch from where she had started to nod off. "Uh yeah yeah, uh yeah let's uh let's go." Rainbow said shaking her head to clear it and leading the way out of the door. "So where to first ya think?" she asked when they were outside.
"I guess we'll see Applejack first, then we can head into town with her, if you want?" Fluttershy suggested but didn't shrink back as she did.
"Sure, to Sweet apple acres!" Dash declared her wings flapped out but she didn't take flight, instead falling next to Fluttershy on the trail.
"Aren't you going to fly?" Fluttershy asked tilting her head and was a little surprised when Rainbow shook her head.
"Na, I think I can stand walking for once," She leaned and bumped Fluttershy slightly. "If I got the right company." She smirked making the yellow Pegasus turn as pink as her mane.
. . .
"I miss em." Applebloom said as she laid the flower before the marble stone.
"Yeah, I do too Sugarcube." Applejack said, patting the filly's back. She couldn't help but let her eyes graze the tombstone again. Big Macintosh, Brother, son, so much more. She couldn't remember who had come up with it, maybe it was Twilight, but it sure sounded right.
"I just, I can't think of what we're going do without em." Applebloom cried trying to suck back her tears.
"Now honey he aint gone." She soothed as she pulled Applebloom to her. "See, he's buried right here, he's gonna always be part of the grove from now on. Big mac always was a hard worker, now he'll always be part of the fields, help us out in his own way." Applejack tried to keep her voice level but she could feel her own sadness welling up. Somehow the story made her feel better though, somehow.
"Yeah, he is." The olive filly said wiping her eyes. "It's gonna be hard aint it?"
Applejack nodded, "but we're apples, we'll make it through it."
The sisters stayed quiet honoring their brother with the same silence he was known for and always enjoyed. On the hill of the apple orchard covered in one of their largest trees sat a single polished rock, and a memory.
They heard the slow hoof steps before any pony spoke. "Here to see Big Mac again?" Rainbow's voice lacked its usual bravado but still had a hint of a smile to it.
"Yeah, I wanted to see him again before we left." Applejack said barley trusting her voice before she turned to face her two Pegasus friends. Rainbow held a forced smile trying to be sympathetic, she wasn't very good at it. Fluttershy's eyes were glued behind her to Big Mac's tombstone till they got wet and she turned away. "Guess we lost track of time. Time to go aint it?" Applejack said looking to the sun to see it starting its descent.
"Yeah, we need to get going, if uh you're done." Rainbow said turning her head away. She was really bad at this.
"Sure, c'mon Applebloom, let's get crackin." Applejack smiled adjusting her hat and walked towards her friends, her back leg dragging in the dirt. The leg still had the white cast holding it stiff and the trace of a splint along the side to act as crutch since AJ had refused a wheelchair and had absolutely refused staying in the hospital to recover, the cast and brace were a compromise. Rainbow may not have enjoyed hospitals but Applejack seemed allergic to them.
"We're going to see Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle too right?" Applebloom asked bouncing in front of the other mares. Her mood changed quickly when her friends came into the picture.
"Sure are, to Rarity's?" Applejack asked casting a glance at the couple walking with them which received a unanimous nod and the group walked, serenaded by Applebloom's never ending chattering, the sound drowning out memories.
. . .
Rarity hummed happily to herself as she threaded the final stich and looped her line off, bringing the strip of velvet firmly in place on the edge of the dress.
"All done sis?" Sweetie Belle asked appearing next to her sister.
"Yes! That's the last order for the week." She smiled lifting the dress over and laying it with the rest of her completed work. The white unicorn turned back to her little sister. "Care to help me clean up?"
"Sure!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed bouncing in place. The eager filly began darting to and fro snatching up strips of cut or used cloth and piling them away with surprising speed. Rarity watched and smiled grabbing her pins, designs and some of her tools in her magic while her sister ran about in practiced frenzy.
"Are you sure you don't want me to help?" Cheerilee asked standing from her chair only to be waved away by Rarity.
"Never dear. You're already going to be looking after the girls for us, I can't ask anything more of you. Besides, it's nice to get some help from my sister." Rarity said patting Sweetie belle as she balanced a sizable stack of cloth. The white filly nodded and mumbled something through teeth filled with more fabric.
"How can you carry all that Sweetie Belle?" A tiny blond unicorn asked while poking her head into Sweetie Belle's stack as it was dropped.
"Tons of practice with my big sis, Dinky." Sweetie Belle proclaimed proudly. "Rarity's been showing me how to be less err well clumsy." The white unicorn blushed a bit.
Dinky smiled and turned back to her friend. "Nothing wrong with being a little clumsy." The two girls fell into a laughing fit while the older mares settled next to each other.
"She's doing well?" Rarity asked quietly to the schoolteacher.
The fushia mare nodded slowly. "She still has nightmares, still mourns now and then, but not as bad as before. She is doing a lot better now that she has Sweetie Belle and the others to take her mind off of it." The older mare smiled as the two unicorns began trying to lift larger sets of fabrics with their magic. "It's horrible what happened but I hope she can come out of it."
"Me too." The door echoed suddenly with several loud knocks. "That must be Applejack." Rarity said standing up and walking to the door opening the fancy door with her magic. Though Applejack did not head up the team of ponies she was present behind Rainbow Dash and flanked by Applebloom and Fluttershy.
"Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy! I didn't know you two would be coming over." Rarity smiled and embraced her friends one at a time. Applebloom said her quick hello and rushed to join the other fillies making the older mares giggle themselves.
"So Rarity, how ya'll feeling?" Applejack asked as they all stepped outside with the foals in tow.
"Oh you know, better than yesterday not as good as tomorrow." She said waving her hoof about. "I've been fine for a while, don't even need the bandages anymore." She turned to show her side, the two small holes where her fur had only recently regrew were visible but not noticeable to anything less than a discerning eye.
"You are looking better." Fluttershy whimpered.
Applejack opened her mouth to speak but stopped when another sound filled the air. A distant buzz that grew into a droning whirr. "What the hay?" She asked as she turned her head to the sound. The other mares all turned just in time to see a tiny orange dot spinning and turning in the air before flying high like a rocket and shooting down equally as fast right at them, the sound growing louder as it approached.
"LooklooklooklookahhhhhhhhhAAHHHH!" the filly's scream echoed through Ponyville as she shot down and crashed hard as a cannon ball into the earth, throwing bits of dirt in the air. All of them stared in shock except Rainbow Dash, who laughed heartily.
"Scootaloo! Are ya ok? RD quiet laughing it aint funny!" Applejack said trying to shuffle over to the crash site but Rainbow Dash waved her off and gently hovering over the destroyed dirt.
"Relax AJ. This is nothing. Last week she left a crater twice this size at my house, now that worried me a bit." Rainbow landed where a set of orange limps were flailing from the ground, a pink tail swishing in the air frantically. Rainbow snagged one leg and with a single tug and pop Scootaloo's head appeared to the air.
"Rainbow Dash! Did ya see? I was flying!" The tiny Pegasus squealed, her wings beating like a humming bird.
"Yeah I saw you scoots. May need to work on those landings though." Rainbow released the filly letting her fall to the ground and picked herself up.
"Yeah yeah but I am way faster than I was before, and I can fly all on my own now." Scootaloo closed her eyes and her wings started beating again like a mad hummingbird making a dull hum noise. The tiny filly floated off the ground rising level with Rainbow's multicolored mane and looking her idol in the eyes. "See? It's so cool!" The little filly started to shoot away but Rainbow lifted into the air and blocked her off guiding the filly back down.
"Take it easy scoots. I know you're excited but you gotta take it easy starting off. Try staying low and slow till you can control yourself better, then maybe you can try going faster, alright?" She ruffled the little foal's mane and set her down. "Trust me, crashing a thousand times, it gets real boring after a while."
"Alright Rainbow Dash." The filly moped but still accepted the hug and shove from her idol sending her over to her friends.
"She's doing better." Fluttershy said When Rainbow joined them again.
"Yup, she'll be young fliers completion material in no time." Rainbow gloated and smiled over at the fillies playing. "Well uh we better get going."
"Right, thank you again Miss Cheerliee for watching them for us." Rarity thanked as they stared away.
"Right. Thanks a bunch miss Cheerilee! We owe ya'll some cider!" Applejack waved as they left. The fushia mare waved back till the group blended into the town onto their next goal.
. . .
"Ohmygosh you're all here!" Pinkie screamed and jumped out of the door, bouncing across each of her friends in the waiting room. "Almost the whole gang is here, except Twilight but we're gonna go get her right? Cause then we can have a super party and we can all have so much fun!" Pinkie ranted bouncing around.
As Pinkie's bounce wore down an older mare stepped in from behind the door she had exploded through. The older maroon mare smiled at Pinkie's ecstatic manners until the party pony came back to settle in front of her. "He he sorry, got a little carried away. Did we need anything else Miss Frayed?"
Miss Frayed smiled and shook her head. "Not at all Pinkie. We made a lot of progress today, go on and enjoy the day, be with your friends. Same time next week?" The question was more of command but Pinkie nodded and saluted to the older mare as she retired out the door with her friends.
"So Pinks how uh how is the, how is stuff?" Rainbow stuttered over the words.
"Oh stuff is great! Miss frayed is so cool. She's super sweet and kind and she can just listen like I know every pony can listen but she can just sit there and listen and when she listens it's like she's really listening not like you guys but she just hears things more than what you're saying. She's like a super listener!" Pinkie's tone never dropped or slowed below a frantic parade of syllables.
"Yeah how's the therapy going Pinkie?" Rarity asked quietly.
Pinkie didn't bounce but her smile never faltered. "Great. Miss Frayed says I'm doing really good and I feel really good." The pink pony's eyes looked away from her friends and her legs slowed slightly. "I know there's a lot of bad in me, and I'm scared but Miss Frayed said that's ok cause I know it's there so I can fight it." Pinkie's feet slowed to a stop. "I can make sure I don't hurt any pony ever again."
They all stopped and looked at their friend. Pinkie's head was hung low and her eyes cast down. Her whole body trembled once but she didn't cry. Applejack was first to wrap her friend in a hug, followed by Rarity and Fluttershy and finally Rainbow Dash till all the mares were wrapped with their friend. "Now sugaercube, you aint gotta worry. You're gonna beat this thing, and we're all gonna help ya."
"Yes, you don't have to face it alone, you have all of us." Rarity added.
"I believe in you Pinkie. You're too nice to be mean." Fluttershy smiled and nuzzled her friend.
"You always got me pinks. You can beat anything, you're not bad, I know you're not." Rainbow said squeezing Pinkie tightly in her grip. Pinkie smiled and pulled her friends back to her.
"Thank you girls." She whispered and hugged them all tightly. "But come on, this is not day to be a frowny pants." She released her friends and smiled again. A true Pinkie smile. "Let's go get Twilight and have a party!" Pinkie bounced in the air and stared pulling her friends along towards the library.
. . .
Twilight ran her hoof over the yellowed page before turning it gently with her magic. Her eyes swept over the page taking in every word at her usual speedy pace. A smile tinged her lips as she read over the page, the words electing the same electric sensation reading always gave her. She felt herself pulled from her reading as the door rattled with a knock. Spike started down the stairs just as they began.
"Don't worry Spike I'll get it." She smiled. Setting the book on the table and walking to the door slipping it open and grinning at the picture of her friends on the other side. "Girls!" She squealed, throwing herself at the mares on the other side of the threshold and grabbing them all in a huge hug.
"Geez Twilight. You think we haven't seen you in ages with a greeting like that." Rainbow Dash chuckled.
"Oh but this is such a super way to meet." Pinkie squealed squeezing them all tighter but reluctantly released them all after Twilight did.
"Sorry, it's just well it's nice to see you girls is all." Twilight smiled and lead them back inside. "I know you're all ready to leave, just give me a few minutes."
"Hiya girls. Hi Rarity." Spike waved from the stairs. Rarity smiled back up to the little dragon.
"How are you doing Spike? Helping Twilight I hope." She said.
"Of course." Spike declared. "Doing what I can, lifting books and all. It's tiring but I'm getting pretty buff." The little dragon flexed his arms and looked down to the other ponies with a smile. Rainbow was the first to break into a laugh with Pinkie leaning on her while she joined in. Soon all of the ponies and even Spike were laughing happily at the dragon's joke.
Twilight returned where her book was laid and lifted it finding its place on the walls of shelves. "Still reading that book Twilight?" Rarity asked stepping next to the purple unicorn and glancing at the book. "Is there really anything else you can learn from it?"
Twilight stopped and brought the book back before her. She stared over the red cover and smiled. "Yeah, there is a lot more I can learn from it. It has all of Lloyd's stories, his past. It's all so terrible but it's a wonderful story."
Rainbow Dash smiled and shifted her wings. "Maybe I should read that once." Every pony turned to their blue friend. "Ya know, when your done with it and all." She shrugged.
"It might be good to hear more about him." Fluttershy smiled. "He did help a lot."
Twilight grinned and lifted the book up into the edge of the shelf and shifted it into place. Her horn faded and she stepped away looking back to her friends. "So are we all ready to go?" The multicolored heads bobbed happily. "Alright. Spike you're in charge till we get back, ok?" Twilight looked to her assistant.
Spike saluted firmly. "Can do Twilight. I'll see you tonight."
Twilight smiled and walked after her friends as they left out of the door. Twilight brought up the rear and closed the door behind them. "So, we better get going right?" Twilight asked.
"Sure as sugar." Applejack nodded. Pinkie bounced in the air with a squeal while Fluttershy jumped at the noise and pressed against Rainbow Dash who pressed back against her butter colored friend. Rarity adjusted her mane and smiled ahead with Twilight.
Twilight turned and started away with her friends behind her. The sun was out bathing the ground in light, casting long shadows across the town but they were nothing to be afraid of, they had faced darker shadows and come out stronger.
Dark was no longer something to fear, just another part of them.
. . .
The horns played slow and somber sending the melody across the garden. Princess Luna focused on maintaining her regal stance despite how she felt. Her wing no longer was bound in the bandage and it felt nice to feel free from the constriction. The music continued from the horns in another sweeping sad melody that nearly brought tears to the alicorn's eyes.
Hundreds of golden armored guards stood in firm form, eyes cast up, each trying to stand firm and not break as the horns sounded. The graves of countless older ponies surrounded them, all marked by tables of shining marble. The ceremony had been going on for over an hour already, the sun beginning to lower. All of the dead had been laid to rest, buried into the ground and the last words said over them. Celestia had gotten up and said her peace, thanking all of the guards who had died at the hands of the monster Darkside. She thanked them all, commended them, honored their families. It was a beautiful ceremony.
Luna never spoke, she was present for the entire ordeal but never stepped to speak. Celestia used her magic and created a large memorial in the garden. A huge stone memorial with the names of all those who fell to the monster and some small inscription about sacrifice and duty, it was a way to remember them and ensure their sacrifices were never forgotten. The guards were allowed the time off, several days off to be with their families, their friends, to enjoy their lives. Celestia's gift.
Luna didn't leave even as Celestia retreated to the castle and the guards filed out of the garden. She remained, her eyes drawn to the stone in the garden. So much lost and for so little. The stone was nice but it was an empty gesture, a way to always know of the evil none of them could stop. She sighed and shook her head letting her mane fly away from her face. It was a sad, so sad she nearly let herself cry several times but had retained her composure for the sake of the all the other ponies.
Some of the guards had been staying behind, looking at the graves of familiar friends or wandering around aimlessly. Some had removed their armor, and some even cried. Such displays were usually unheard of in the guard, but this was special. She wouldn't hold anything against them now. Luna watched them all leave eventually, one by one till the garden was all but deserted. The princess of the night glanced over the garden and her eyes fell on one of the only ponies still in the garden. She slowly trotted across the garden and walked carefully behind the guard who was staring up at the monument. She opened her mouth to speak but the guard spoke first.
"Princess." He said bowing his head but not looking at her. The dark mane washed over his dark coat as he shrugged it back over his horn. "I hope you're feeling well after all that happened."
Luna dropped her head slightly. "I am feeling well Artimus. How are you?"
Artimus turned his head to face the princess. A black eye patch blocked out his left eye leaving only one grey orb to look at her. His face was slumped and carved from a constant frowning. "Better every day your highness." He turned back to the stone before him. "But still not that good."
Luna looked with him. "We lost many that night. I'm sorry, I know you were close to many of them." She let her head hang a little. "But at least we didn't lose everyone."
Artimus took a long deep breath, heaving his entire body. "I know. We did save some, it's better than nothing. But we still I can't help but feel-"
"Stop." Luna said quickly but quietly. "Don't do that to yourself. I owe you my Life Artimus, as does Rarity, as do so many others." She looked down as the unicorn turned his eyes up to her. "The others talked about how you organized them during the attack, rallied everyone and protected them even after Darkside attacked you again. You were badly wounded and yet you went on"
"Yeah, it didn't save them all though. Still couldn't protect you and lost my eye." Artimus brushed his face and sighed.
"There was nothing that could be done for it?" Luna asked leaning down.
"No. too much damage, not enough time." He shook his head. "Just another casualty."
Luna looked away from the stallion and away from the stone memorial. "Artimus," She began. "Would you walk with me?" She asked turning away.
Artimus looked up from the stone to the blue princess of the night. The dark unicorn nodded and walked beside the alicorn as they slowly strode from the monument towards more trees. The sun was dropping from the sky the shadows beginning to lengthen over the ground as they walked aimlessly through the garden. The hedge maze, the stone statues, all of it went by in silence as the princess and her guard walked.
Until finally Luna spoke. "We are still alive Artimus." She said quietly.
The unicorn did not look to her and simply sighed. "Yes we are. I suppose we will have to rebuild. The castle, the guards. As long as we keep going, we have to keep rebuilding."
Luna stopped as they reached the edge of the trees. The view was only better from the balcony of her room but even from here they gazed over the mountain, down to the world below of sweeping trees, flowing rivers, all drenched in dying sunlight.
"So beautiful." Luna turned her head as Artimus spoke. "All that happened and the world continues, still so pretty and serene."
Luna nodded and looked out again. She tried to think of how to say it. How to approach what she wished to say but any clever words were lost from her. "Artimus," She asked gaining the dark unicorn's eye. "There is something I wished to discuss with you."
"Of course your highness." He nodded and fell silent, watching with attention.
"You see, as you said we have lost much and must rebuild." She began. "Celestia believes that this is also a time to change, a time for new things." Luna paused but never looked down to Artimus. "She wants the guard changed, she wants me to have my own guard division operating separately so that we may coordinate better in another such emergency, operate independently if it were." She looked down to Artimus and watched for his response.
The unicorn nodded his head and pinched his lip in thought. "Yes. That does seem good, having different command structure that could operate in the event of lost leadership. It was hard to regain control during the attack, different groups all divided could operate on their own better." He mused.
"Yes, and of course she left it to me to organize this group." Luna smiled. "And I would like you to be the captain of this new guard."
Artimus looked up from his thinking to Luna's bright eyes. His own eye widened but fell back to the reserved cold narrow it always held. "I am sorry princess, but I must decline." He hung his head.
"Why?" Luna asked a little shocked.
"I am injured." He said brushing his eye patch with a hoof. "To have one as crippled as I as a captain is unwise." Artimus turned back to the garden behind them. "Of course I know several others who would be fine suited. If you would like I can tell you who."
"Artimus," Luna said shaking her head. "A lost eye does not make you an ill guard. Your physical state has nothing to do with why I chose you."
Artimus paused, no matter how hard he tried to hide the twist in his head he was trying hard not to turn and face Luna. "Why then? If I may."
"I chose you because you are loyal, strong of heart, wise." Luna stepped closer to the unicorn. "During the attack, when others were hurt and bleeding. You ignored your own pain to see to their safety. You rallied them all to my defense, planned and grouped them all, you protected me and Rarity so we could escape with the elements even if it would cost you your life-"
"But it didn't!" Artimus snapped louder than he meant. He huffed and bit his lips. Luna waited while the pony composed himself. "I should have died that night. I should be dead with the rest of them in the ground, but I didn't die! I did all I could to protect you and Celestia and yet we still failed. I don't deserve a title, I don't even deserve this life. I deserve to be with my friends, de-"
"Stop!" Luna barked loudly this time making Artimus fall silent. "You are a fine guard. You survived and while it may hurt to have done so, it makes me very happy." She stepped forward and laid her wing over the quivering stallion. "You lived, you were willing to die for us, despite all your pain and you lived. It may only be due to chance but the fact is your alive. Don't wish death on yourself, take the life you have and live it. So now I ask you to serve me again, though I have to right to, please, for me and for those who were lost. Don't just give up, there's something worth living for." Luna brushed over the unicorn's back.
Artimus took one long shaky breath in and out. "You're right. Ok." He mumbled. "For them, and for you my princess. I will protect you again, and forever."
"Thank you Artimus." She said pulling her wing back.
Artimus took one step ahead and stopped. His head slowly turned and looked up into the sky. "It's a shame. . ." He whispered.
"What is?"
"That rain is spoiling this pretty day."
Luna cast her head up but saw only the white puffs of clouds left at the end of the day. "But it's not raining."
Artimus tipped his head farther back, his mane falling back from his face and Luna could see the distinct lines of water running over his face.
"Yes. Yes it is."
. . .
In a place too far away to be measured in distance, was a young man. He looked over the land marking several places in his mind as his feet brushed over the grass. He shook his head to move his hair from his eyes and focused again on the book in his hand writing a few more lines and names, things he needed to remember. A grey jacket and shirt was pulled in the wind while he closed the book admiring its red cover and detailed emblazed image. Two foes crossing swords, an eternal story.
He looked out and while nothing stood out to him, he could feel it out there, drawing him in. His goal, his enemy. Another world lay behind him, another world not burned. It wasn't much but it was something. He slipped the book away into his pack and set off over the grass, letting his power pull him where he was needed. Maybe here, maybe this time, maybe the next world, maybe a thousand years. Too many maybes, but in the end the answer would come.
"Next round Darkside." Lloyd hissed against the wind. He set off again, after his enemy, through another world. Always his burden, always his fight.
His enemy, His Darkside.
I decided to post this back up and I hope to one day continue this series of Lloyd and Darkside. I'm in a bad spot right now and unable to do much work but hopefully I can work on the RWBY story I started or continue the Danny Phantom arc.
I will ask if you have any suggestions about where this two monsters should end up next I will gladly hear it. As always I would love hear what you thought. If you came this far you have to have some kind of opinion, even if it is hate.
With that I say good bye, and finish off another huge story.
Good bye and keep reading.