(Twilight’s Castle, 3rd Pony P.O.V)

Obsidian had made up with his friends, but he didn’t want to burden them with him feeling guilty about what he’s done. “I have to be alone for a while.” Obsidian said as the group hug ended, this confused everypony, even Randablitz was confused, but he then understood his reasoning for wanting to be alone and stayed silent. “I can’t burden all of you with my guilt so I think it would be best if I came to terms with this alone for a while.” Obsidian said as Pinkie walked up next to him with a sad face. “You promise you’ll be back right?” Pinkie said a little sad that her friend was leaving. “I promise Pinkie.” Obsidian said with an affirming nod. “Do you Pinkie Promise?” Princess Celestia asked with a smug smile on her face. Obsidian sighed in defeat. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Obsidian said with a slight groan at the unbreakable Pinkie Promise. Some ponies giggled at this as Obsidian then summoned a portal with a bright light emitting from the other side. Just before entering the gray unicorn gave a small smile before ending in the portal and closing behind him.

“Where do think he went?” Roseluck asked as the portal disappeared. “Where he goes we cannot follow, let him have his solitude.” Celestia said patting Roseluck on her shoulder. “Yeah, don’t worry Rose, he’ll come back, after all he Pinkie Promised.” Minuette said as she nuzzled her new possibly shared marefriend. “Yeah, I guess you’re right Minny, and when he comes back, we’ll be waiting for him.” Roseluck said with a smile.

(Haywaii, Obsidian’s P.O.V.)

After I left Ponyville through the portal I made, I ended up on the archipelago of Haywaii. I felt like I could gather my thoughts in this peaceful place. “Maybe I can find my personal forgiveness here.” I said to myself as I felt my hooves slightly sinking into the sand and relaxing in the warm sun at the perfect paradise.

The waves gently rolled upon the shore with ease as the occasional seagull squawked from above. “I could get used to this place.” I said as I saw some mares trot past me. I walked over to a nearby palm tree and gave it a gentle kick with my left hind leg, and a coconut fell from the tree. I cracked the coconut open and drank the wonderful tasting milk, summoning a pair of sunglasses, and gave a relaxed sigh. “After my little ‘vacation’ I’ll find a way to rid myself of my guilt.” I said as I walked along the beach looking at the beautiful waves out in the distance.

After taking in the scenery of my new hideout, I saw the sun setting in the distance. “I wish every evening was like this, watching the sun disappearing past the horizon with the ocean in the foreground.” I said as I went towards the jungle nearby. I found a level tree that seemed perfect to set up a treehouse for the time I’ll be here. “This seems like a good place to build a shelter.” I said as I started to gather some materials to become the roof, walls, and floor of my treehouse. Under the light of Luna’s wonderful moon, I managed to get the floor of my shelter put together. “I think that’s good for now, time to get some sleep.” I said with a smile as I admired my work.

As I slept, something was nagging in the back of my mind, at first i didn’t pay it any mind, but the longer I ignored it, the more persistent the feeling became. “You can’t run from this.” I heard a voice say, sounding just like me from my foalhood. “Face your fears, or end up like the traitor.” the voice continued to say to me as I tried to run in the opposite direction. “S-stay away from me!” I said, afraid of the voice. I kept hearing the voice saying that ‘I couldn’t hide’. I was now terrified of the ghostly voice haunting my mind. This continued for at least and hour, and then I woke up sweating from the nightmare I had last night. “What, was that?” I asked myself wiping the sweat from my forehead. I looked around to see the moon still in the sky and due to the moon being low in the sky it was still quite some time until morning rises. “Just a little more time to sleep.” I sighed as I went back to sleep.

(Twilight’s Castle, 3rd Pony P.O.V)

As the sun was rising over Equestria, Randablitz yawned as he woke up from a peaceful sleep. “I have a good feeling about today.” Randablitz said as he made his bed and walked out of his guest room. As he trotted into the dining area, Spike had already prepared breakfast with Twilight assisting him with setting the table. Princess Celestia and Luna went back to Canterlot after Obsidian’s departure, and all of the Element Bearers went back to their homes. The only other ponies who stayed were Minuette and Roseluck who had yet to arrive. “Good morning everypony.” Randablitz said as he spotted Roseluck and Minuette entering the dining room with sleepy smiles on their faces. “Oh Breakfast smells delicious.” Roseluck said before a yawn escaped as if she had not slept for a while. “You two seem like you haven’t slept in quite a while, do you girls want to talk about it?” Twilight asked as she levitated plates of pancakes, eggs, and biscuits over to the table. “Oh no, we’re fine, nothing really happened at all.” Minuette answered and did her best to cover up her little lie, but like the lie detector he was, Randablitz saw through it like glass. “You two are sleeping together aren’t you?” Randablitz asked flatly. Both mares looked at him with surprised faces. “How did he know?!” Minuette thought to herself as the prince could see that her and Roseluck were sleeping with each other. “H-how did you know?!” Roseluck asked Randablitz with a slight squeal in her voice.

“I’m a living lie detector, prophet, and wisepony, need I go on?” Randablitz said as he tapped his hoof on the table as he said each of his capabilities to Roseluck. “Oh, that makes a lot of sense actually.” Roseluck said as she took a bite of her pancake platter. “So, Randablitz, any plans for today?” Twilight asked after the all seeing alicorn finished a pancake. “Possibly explore Ponyville, since we’ve been busy defending Equestria from Sombra, I haven’t been able to fully appreciate what this town has to offer.” Randablitz said with a smile as he finished his pancakes. “Well I’m unsure of what I’m going to do, I’ve read through most of the books in the library and Obsidian’s not here to teach any new magic.” Twilight sighed as Spike gave her a supportive pat on her back.

“Well there are somethings I could teach you, and I should give you some books from my personal library, so you can get an idea of what Taurus is like as a culture.” Randablitz said as he put a wing around Twilight and pulled her a little closer to him. “Thanks, I’d be interested in reading something outside of Equestrian knowledge.” Twilight looked up with glimmering hope as A flash of light appeared and became The Princess of the Night, Luna. “I know where Obsidian is!” Luna said franticly. Immediately, Roseluck and Minuette’s ears perked up at this news. “You do? Where is he? Is he alright?” The two questioned the lunar princess as the shook her back and forth. “Yes, but as I was treading along amongst the dream realm, I felt a disturbance in the force.” Luna said as the two mares stopped shaking her like a maraca. “That disturbance just so happened to be Obsidian going through a nightmare. As my duty to help those through nightmares, I went to see Obsidian, but it looked worse than a simple fear of monsters. It felt like he was running away from something he could not see and the mysterious voice I heard sounded like him as a colt.” Luna explained still unsure of how describe her experience. Randablitz knew exactly what was going on and decided to speak his mind.

“The voice that you heard and saw Obsidian trying to run from was his own subconscious, he’s afraid of himself, more specifically his anger, the drive to do great, or terrible things. True, his anger can give him great power, but if he allows it, it will destroy him, no matter his original intentions, he will become truly lost.” Randablitz said as he also went through this trial as a colt when got lost in one of the cave systems under his castle, and encountered his darker self. “Now he must journey inwards, by embracing his worst fear, by giving power to that which he fears, it’ll reveal itself to him.” Randblitz continued to say, advising Luna to let Obsidian sort this out on his own. “I understand, but I still feel as if there’s something we can do to help.” Luna said hoping there was a way. “We could, but if we interfere, we will destroy everything for which we have fought and suffered, so ultimately he must decide what to do, keep running from his past, or learn from it.” Randablitz said while closing his eyes and slowly reopening them to accentuate his point.

As the ponies looked onto the first point if he were to decide amongst himself to forgive and forget his past mistake, all the evil and darkness that lurked within him would disappear and free him, but on the other if he were to continue on running from his past, the darkness would consume him and will become a monster like King Sombra, who will care for not a single thing, not even to his friends. “You now see what the results would lead to, so we can’t help him this time, so for now let’s leave him to decide his own path.” Randablitz said to the others in a wise tone. Everypony nodded in understanding. “It would be best for Obsidian to face himself rather than run away.” Luna said completely understanding what was happening with Obsidian now, seeing as she went through the same thing when the Tantibus nearly ruined the world as it was fueled by her own guilt, sadness, and shame for her own past mistakes. “Well I’m sorry for causing such a scene on such a glorious day, I must head back to Canterlot, have a nice day everypony.” Luna said as she activated her magic and teleported herself back to Canterlot.

After Luna went back for Canterlot, Roseluck and Minuette were wary of Obsidian’s future and really wanted to be there to support him in any way possible. “Well everypony, it’s been nice, but Minny and I have do our respective jobs, see you next time.” Roseluck said telling her story of half truth, since Minuette started her own dentist office in Ponyville. After the mares left, Twilight and Randablitz helped Spike clean the dining room so they could begin their studies. “One spell I’d like to teach you is my telepathic communication spell.” Randablitz said as he and Twilight entered the library. “Great, so what do I need to do?” Twilight asked, her eyes lit up like a foal’s on Hearth’s Warming Day. “First you must have a clear mind, otherwise the only communications you’ll be getting are all of the distracting thoughts in your mind, so I recommend that you meditate before we start with that spell, so instead I’ll teach you a little bit about Taurus’s history.” Randablitz said so he wouldn’t bum Twilight out. “So are there any interesting events that I need to know about?” Twilight asked excitedly. “There are, one of them is the Hunt of the Paleblood Moon.” Randablitz said with a frown on his face. “You say it as if it was a bad thing.” Twilight noted. “That’s because it is, because during the night of the Blood Moon, the line between pony and monstrosity are blurred, basically, the things we hunt, they’re not beasts, they’re ponies who’ve been consumed by bloodlust. Our hunters are instructed to ‘cleanse’ the streets until morning arrives.” Randablitz responded as he recalled the terrible occurrence. “Oh, I’ve never thought of it that way. So have you participated in this hunt before?” Twilight asked, Randablitz nodded sorrowfully, knowing he’s killed many monstrosities, many of them had families and he hated that he had to purge them.

(Haywaii Jungle, Obsidian’s P.O.V.)

After that terrifying nightmare last night, I felt the need to explore this island I came upon and so far I only saw the beautiful beach that seems to have not been in contact with any pony as of now. “I wonder what this island has to offer?” I asked as I ventured in the forest that seemed more like some rainforest. During my little expedition, it filled me with peacefulness with every sight I took from the swaying coconut trees near the beach to the crystal clear lagoon in the jungle. It truly felt like a paradise to be lost in. As I looked into the lagoon, I saw the image of myself as a colt, seeing that image made me jump back a few inches. “You can’t keep running, you need to let go.” I heard him say as I picked up a rock and threw it into the water to make him go away. “I feel like I’m going more insane than relaxed, can’t I please have a normal little vacation without any mishaps.” I said rubbing my temple in frustration. I walked away from the lagoon and began to forage some ripe fruit to take back with me to my little hut.

I gathered some coconuts, bananas, mangos, and some pineapples along with some pure water from the lagoon for something to drink. “Hello, Hello?” I heard the all-too familiar voice of Randablitz ask me. “What do you want?” I asked with an exasperated sigh. “Nothing, just wanted to tell you that we know where you are, and I’ll give two guesses as to what Minuette, and Roseluck plan to do with this new information.” He said in response. “Oh no, please you have to keep them away from me, not for my sake, but theirs!” I pleaded. “I’ll try, but since when does anypony that associates themselves with you ever listen to me?” He asked in response, but nevertheless agreed to help me with my problem. “Thanks, I just need more time.” I said to him as he ended our connection. “I guess now this is a time I should be thankful that he’s watching out for me.” I said as I went back to my hut and enjoyed my ration of fruit.

As night began to fall over the ocean to a beautiful orange sunset, I sighed with depression as I remembered my time with my former parents before tossing me into a trash bin and left to fend for myself. “You were the reason you held us down.” “Without you we can have more wealth.” “He is weak and useless and not to mention his magic is not developed enough to help us, We should just get rid of him.” Hatred flowed into my mind at the memories of my parents to abandon me for their own selfish desires. Dark magic entered me once more as the effects kicked in the more I thought about it. “Tomorrow, I should pay them a visit and show them what I’ve become.” I spoke with villainy as I planned to subject them into their worst fear or better yet, death for their actions of abandoning an innocent colt. “Killing them makes you more of a monster than them, why stoop to their level, they never deserved you as their son in the first place, just forget about them.” I heard the colt version of myself say to me. “But it was their responsibility to raise me, I was born to them and after 5 years they would toss me in a trash bin like the garbage they think I was and I should just FORGET ABOUT IT!” I shouted with pure hatred to my subconcious. “It’s true that it was their responsibility, but they obviously didn’t want it, so they tried to run from it, just like you are now trying to run from your past mistakes.” My subconscious replied, but my anger began to mix in with sadness. “But, they were suppose to love me, I was suppose to look for them for guidance, But why must they just drop forget a colt that would have deserved a chance to prove to them that he can help them, but I was never given that chance. Since then I would wish for a family to love me and accept me, until King Sombra came, Why should I forget them after all the suffering we went through?” I asked as I calmed down a bit. “Simple, they’re not worth remembering, by now they’ve probably already met their end, since we were sealed away for over 1,000 years.” My subconscious reasoned. As he was right, I still felt resentment and a devious thought rolled in. “They may be gone, but who’s to say it was by me.”

“What you’re saying is true, but I want the satisfaction in their passing.” This stumped the mind of the colt version of myself until he finally caught on. “What would that solve, it would only turn you into what Sombra was: Cold, unfeeling, cruel, and soulless, is that what you wish to become?” The colt version of myself asked. He was right, that’s not what I really wanted, I just want to show them that if they waited a little longer I could’ve made them proud. “I just want them to see how I could’ve made them proud, is that too much to ask? I mean, it was wrong to just toss out something that could have been given so much as a chance, but why not waste it.” I said as I felt tears threatening to escape my eyes. “Simple, your mother died broken hearted that she couldn’t have anymore foals after you were born, and your father practically hated himself for even thinking of giving you up, they’ve tortured themselves enough, don’t you think?” I never really considered the fact they would actually feel this way, I thought they were better off without me, a dysfunctional gray colt that they would always fake their happiness due to my obliviousness every foal has. It brought more tears to my eyes of how much hatred I had for them than considering that maybe they would one day come back for me. “Y-You’re right. I was an imbecile to even consider of murdering my parents. Why in all my life has it been filled with pain and sadness and all I ever had was anger and remorse after being abandoned all those years?” I asked with my eyes closed and some tears escaping. “It is possible to commune with them, all you need to do is find their graves and focus your magic and they’ll appear, then once they ask for your forgiveness, give it to them so they may finally rest in peace, knowing you grew up to be a better stallion without their influence.” The colt version of me said as he faded away from my mind.

“But wait, I don’t even know where their graves could be.” I said silently as I lied down with sadness. “Your answer is in your dreams, think of where you grew up.” I heard a soothing feminine voice say to me, I quickly turned around and saw a glimpse of my mother before she faded away into nothingness. “The Crystal Empire.” I said silently as I grew determined to make a return to the Empire I used to call home. “As much of a relaxation this was, I must leave Haywaii.” I then focused my magic to open up a portal to the outskirts of the Empire, but due to the distance and the amount of magic it took, I quickly leapt through the portal.

Author's Notes:

Hello ponies and bronies, Obsidian here to say we got some drama and internal conflict flaring up right now. In all honesty I never expected for this story to go so far, but hey life is full of surprises. Kudos to Randablitz for editing as always and leave feedback so we may improve the story.

Be sure to Like, Comment, Favorite, and Follow me and til next time, I'll talk to you all later.