Title:           Oblivious Anon: The Sacrifice [AiE] [Soarin] [Dark]
Author:          Anonymous
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/ApLGS2JD
First Edit:      Sunday 24th of January 2016 08:30:43 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Sunday 24th of January 2016 08:30:43 PM CDT

>So the sun is setting, and if you looked hard enough you could probably see Celestia near the tail end of it, pushing it down
>You are Anonymous, and tonight, the sun is painting everything with rust
>Behind you the dusk is gathering and falling down cliffs and hills and then on your back
>You lean over the wood polished railings of Nightgate Inn, propping up your chin with palm
>"Anonymous." There's a flat and commanding voice behind you.
You sigh."I thought I had more time."
>"You've been moved up for tonight. This is the will of Celestia." There are three ponies behind you
>Two royal guardsmen, one in deep blue and white robes. Inquisitor robes.
>You can feel the knife on your nightstand taunting you
>'Wake up, remember me?'
>You watch the sun a little more. They'll want your word
"....Alright. Just, give me a moment."
>Wonder if jumping from this balcony would be enough to kill you."
>"You have until tonight, Anonymous. Don't forget that."
"Believe me, I wont."
 
>The silence is the worst part. You can hear that horrible thing next to you just calling your name
>You haven't slept in three days because of it
>He's been coming by almost daily to see if you're feeling better
>No escort, no ceremony or posturing. Just him
>Celestia's cronies are gone again. They've been in the corners of your eyes ever since you got here
>Ever since he started talking to you
>Ever since you've became friends
>Now they're gone, like shadows, to sip and slough the coming darkness
 
>Any minute he'll be coming here, like clockwork
>Horrible, horrible clockwork
>You slide against your bed and bring the covers down with you in a slow avalanche
>Everything had been going so well until your 'existence' had become suspect
>When political strife and fear-mongering got a hold on everyone in Equestria
>And you were brought in for 'treason'
>Now it had all come to a fine and quiet head, like water simmering just before the boil
>There was a knock on your door
>"Anonymous! You in there?"
 
>You unlatch the deadbolt. Not that it had been any use before
>"Anonymous!" Shining's eyes are glowing
>Nobody on earth had ever been this happy to see you before
>You just stand there watching him, words come up but dry out on your tongue
>He tries craning his neck past you
>"You alright Anon? Did I interrupt you or something?"
>Welcome back to the land of the living
>A lightbulb pops in your head
"R-Right!" You're nearly yelling. "Hey, wait here for a second, okay?"
>Shining smiles at your request
>Everything is coming back into focus.
>Shining Armor, ruler of the Crystal Empire, your best friend here, is standing in front of you
>You oughta react, right?
"Shining, you wanna come take a walk with me? Fireflies like to glow around the edge of the forest."
>It was true, at least
>Your stallion friend perks up. A blush spreads across his face
>"The forest? Fireflies?"
>Maybe he sees something you don't
"Yeah, near the castle. Not far from here."
>He smiles
>"T-That would be great." You've never seen him this happy before either.
"C'mon." You usher him out the door
>The knife is heavy in your pocket
 
>The town comes alive at night
>Torch fires dance and pulse like the heartbeat of the city
>Ponies are everywhere, in pairs,everyone is in a good mood
>Something about tonight's fat moon in the sky has everyone dancing on their toes
>Except you
>You're glad nobody can see your face, you're having a difficult time emoting
>Shining on the other hand isn't. He's elated
>He's prattling on and on about everything in the whole damn world
>And he keeps looking up at you with his soft blue eyes
>They look like glaciers
>Oh God, why now? Why tonight?
 
>Above you Rainbow Dash does a barrel roll into a cloud, coming out on the other side baptized with condensation
>"Anon, watch this!" She calls down to you
>She brings her body up and around in a loop, impaling several clouds for your enjoyment
>"Seems like your settling in!" Shining remarks. "New friends and all."
 
>Actually you had about 7 of them now
>Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, and
>Shining Armor
"I am." You grumble.
>Shining stops you from plodding any further.
>You've been walking like you've got a horn up your ass all night
>"Anon, what's wrong?" He asks. "When I see you acting like this, all mopey, I get worried. Is it me?"
>Your heart skips.
>'YES!' 'YES IT IS!' Your mind screams the truth
>But your mouth whispers a lie.
"I'm just not feeling good is all. Don't worry Shining, you're aces in my book."
>His smile returns, like a banner waving high after victory
>Three cheers for friendship, for brotherhood!
>"Well, if you need me, you know I'll always be at your call."
>You walk ahead, jamming your hands into your pockets
>You whistle a tune
>But inside you're screaming
"Coming, slowpoke?" You toss your head back
>He bounds forward with a spring in his step
>"Right behind ya!"
 
>The buildings thin out and the full weight of the night drops over you
>A little further and there aren't any more homes
>It's just a rolling field
>A gust of wind pulls gently on the grass, the only sound between you two
>"Anon, I gotta tell you something..."
>He must still think there's something wrong
>"I know you're not feeling well, and this isn't the time, but it's about your citizenship request in the Crystal Empire."
>A breath jumps up in your throat but you hold it
>Your heart is beating against the drum of your expanded chest, your ribs are a pathetic cage
>"It's been rejected again."
>The beast is wounded. It slows
>And you can feel sour tears at the corners of your eyes
>And your throat is knotting, but you hide this all
"That's...." You pause, thinking of how to put this. Your only way out now, gone. "...Unfortunate."
>The Forest is coming up
>And you can see the fireflies you promised him
>He can too
 
>His eyes fade and the light behind them flickers
>"I'm really sorry about this. You have no idea how hard I tried to get the council to work with me, but it's all locked up in bureaucracy and prejudice. They think you're a monster."
>You'll show them a monster, a regular Frankenstein, one they made
>You've always only been given temporary lodging here while Celestia figured out what to do with you
>You, Anonymous, the green faced suit wearing monster who wandered into town desperate for a meal
>They treated you like a leper
>Avoided you, cast you out from their society
>You've always only ever been 'help' to them.
>'Anon, help me get this here Apple, will ya?'
>'Anon, I need you to come with me to the Forest'
>And now you'd be something worse
>A pawn
>Your friend looks increasingly depressed. Like he's just failed you and ruined your life
>In a way, he has
"Listen Shining," you squat down to his level. He's avoiding your gaze but you talk on. ",It's alright. It was a crapshoot anyway, alright? I'm not mad at you."
>"Promise?"
"Promise"
>Promise
 
>The castle looms over you both
>There's something to be said about shadows in the dark
>The ones that come from the bone-white moon pouring itself out on you and the trees, creating pools of non-light
>Where you could be quiet and lay still, invisible to everyone. A shadow yourself
>This would have to be it. It would have to be here
 
>The fireflies came out in spades
>Little yellow sparks and flitters of sustained lightning bounced in the air
>It was a warm summer night, perfect for firefly dances
>And man were they putting on a show
>Shining ran ahead of you, through a cloud of them, laughter tearing from his lips behind you
>Where you stood rooted in the spot, facing the looming forest and the castle shadowing you
>You watched him gallop around like he was a kid again, chasing fireflies. Like you used to do
>It was everything you promised him. And at least you could keep that promise
 
>The knife glides silently out of your pocket
>You fold it against your thigh and start forward, trembling
>You try not to think of Shining Armor chasing lights in front of you
>Laughing and tearing up the ground and acting like a kid
>Like your friend
>Your best friend, in all of Equestria
>Who only ever tried to be there for you
>The ruler of the Crystal Empire
>A self-volunteered diplomat who's been here for months as war grew ever closer
>Just to spend time with you
>To help prevent a catastrophe between two nations
>A good stallion working for the people he serves
>And the person you're supposed to kill tonight.
 
>"For the right of citizenship in this fair country, you will perform for me a service!"
>Celestia glared down at you.
>"You've been seen with Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire for some time now. You've grown close to a major political opponent and enemy of Equestria, haven't you?"
"Enemy? He's no enemy. He's here trying to help! He doesn't wan-"
>"Silence!" She booms
>"You are to prove your loyalty to me, and to this country."
>"Kill Shining Armor before your trial tomorrow night, and you will have your citizenship"
 
>Your feet are moving on their own
>The knife is trembling and is slick with sweat
>Shining sinks into a shadow, watching you approach
>"Listen, there's something I need to tell you..."
>Even in the dark of the trees you can see his face burning bright red
>"Ever since I met you, you've never treated me like royalty."
>"At first it was confusing, and then it was refreshing. You know I'm not just a title and a voice of authority. I'm a person."
>"Thank you for that..."
>Shut up
>"I- I don't know how to say this..."
>Shut up shut up
>"But I think..."
>SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP
>"...I think I love you."
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIupTxFrGQs
 
>You throw yourself at him and yell, the knife slashing wildly into the darkness
"Why?! Why did you have to make this so hard?!"
>Tears pour from your eyes, your vision is lost in a haze
>Something pounds into your chest bowling you over
>You grab onto Shining and bring him along with you, tumbling, both of you caught in a web of limbs
>The knots of legs and arms come undone with you on your back
>A hoof presses your arm arm into the grass, the knife just within a fingers pull
>Shining looks down upon you like a warrior might his kill
>His face is twisted and scowling and his teeth are showing, magic bubbles up from his horn, ready to strike
>But then it all comes apart with the tears
>Like a loose thread the tears pull themselves down his cheeks and with them his hate.
>His lips tremble and his glacier blue eyes search your face
>"Why Anon?"
>"Aren't we friends?"
>You're crying too now
>You can only see the castle above him, the stars are gone and dead
>It's watching you
>And God how alone you feel, even being watched
>You look into his eyes seeing yourself mirrored back, tears gunning their way across your dirty skin
>God damnit
>your fist trembles
>In a swift movement you break free of his pressing hold
>You take everything about this into yourself
>The circumstance
>Celestia's watchful eyes
>The war
>Shining Armor
>Your self
>You tighten these things into your fist and squeeze
>And swing for the stars
 
>Shining is nearly launched off of you as your fist sinks into his cheeks
>He tumbles and lands in a spent heap, struggling onto his own feet
>Your up and have the knife in your hand
"God DAMNIT!" You scream at him
"It wasn't supposed to be like this..."
>The knife teases at his neck
>It quivers gently, only as an impartial instrument can
 
 
 
"I was supposed to be given a fair trial. I was supposed to have a home!" You seethe
"None of this should have ever happened. All I wanted was a home and friends, and now I'm going to lose it all because of you..."
>It's so close now
>Dig a little further and strike gold
>You can almost feel her eyes on your back
>'Push further Anon! Just a little further! Dig deep, I know you can do it! Don't you want a home?'
>You stare into Shining's eyes and the knife trembles in your grip
>You've always been weak
>'Where will you go Anon? You're a monster. Do it, and you'll be home at last.'
>Always been a coward
"I thought I could just make myself do it."
>You aim the blade at your own chest
"But I can't. I- I wont!"
>You plunge the knife forward
>And shut your eyes
>Waiting for the sting to come
 
>Your eyes pause, folding open slowly
>Everything was coming into blurry focus
>You didn't feel it go in like you thought you would
>There's something protruding from your chest
>You can feel yourself emptying now, your body becoming hollow
>You think it's your blood on climbing it's way towards your neck
>At least it feels warm
>"Anon?"
>Shining is somewhere above you
>A shadow maybe
>Something is resting on your hands
>Your fingers dig into the shadow and find fur
"Hey buddy..." you manage
>"I- I can't heal this. I c-can get someone-"
>Shining is leaning on top of you
>"Stay right here and I'll get someone, please just hang on!"
>You wont let go
"It's alright Shining. It's alright." Some great warmth comes over you, smothering you. "Let me be"
>"But you're going to die-"
"I know I am. And they're going to try and have you killed again."
>You cough and blood explodes out of you
>Dying really is warm. You always thought it would be
>Everything feels blunted and distant
>Like Novocain across your whole body
>Even as Shining tries places his hooves on your chest and let's his tears drip into your wound
>It doesn't feel like anything
>"Please don't..." He pleads
>But you're smiling now, unable to hear his words
"Shining, you need to go. Leave here. Run."
>"But you-"
"Nothing to it. It doesn't hurt, I promise." You try your best to sound optimistic. As optimistic as one can be with a knife sticking in him
>Shining's body quivers. "This....this isn't happening."
>He's moving upwards now
>Soon Celestia's cronies will come to finish your job
"The forest will hide you." You say. Things are going white and fuzzy
>"Anon-"
"GO!" You push off
>All you see is a shadow stumble away from you
>It pauses, looking at you
>And then up
>And then it evaporates into the forest, into the trees, and is gone
>"I love you..." The words again find you as your eyes shut at last
>You smile
>Your lungs empty for the last time
 
End