Zikel wanders the streets of Ponyville, the sun begins to set making this a good time for him to find somewhere to slumber for the night. He keeps clear of other ponies, staying out of sight until the streets are all clear. He finds a nice little alley and looks around. Plenty of shadow to rest in. he wanders in deeper into the alley, sinking into the shadows, when he did this, it was sort of like a little dimension pocket, he would just float there and drift, this made his sleeping arrangements quite easy when not sleeping in a bed. As he got comfortable, he began to slowly drift off into sleep, clutching his fists as he dreaded what was to come in his slumber.

Zikel's eyes open as he is surrounded by fire, burning building and the sound of screams and panic. He looks down at his hands and in a reflection. He was his child self again, he heard a sickening moan. He turned around to see all of his family and friends limping towards him with burn corpses. He backs away in fear.

"Ziiikeeeelll...you abandoned us....only to save your own skin...your own mother and father...and your friends...you are nothing but a coward..."

"N-no...I didn't abandon you! I didn't know what to do! Please stop! Why must you torment me like this every night?! I wanted to save you all I really did!"

The dream is suddenly consumed by fire, and flashes to the night he disappeared, he stood there surrounded by the adults and children who he performed for, the bodies sickly and full of stab wounds, invading soldiers with glowing red eyes cutting them down one by one, blood splattering the ground and walls around them. One of the children look up at him with a blank stare and a crocked smile.

"You promised you would teach us shadowmancy when we would get better. But now it seems we won't even get to live anymore..you abandoned us also...you are nothing but a monster, a liar, a thief.."

"Stop please! I didn't want this! I was taken from you all that night! It's not my fault!!"

Zikel fell to his knees and grabbed his head, his eyes widening, tears slowly starting to pour from them as the mobs of undead looking corpses started to close in around him.

"You killed us...you killed us...you killed us..."

"No I didn't!"

"ENOUGH!!!"

Shouted a loud bellowing female voice that seemed to make everything vanish around him, what replaced the surrounds was a large lage surrounded by a grassy meadows, and the large moon lighting the who area up with the beautiful night sky filled with stars, the only sound that was heard was the wind running through the grass. Zikel wrapped his arms around himself and continued shaking, nearly falling on his side.

"That is quite the nightmare you have to endure Zikel. I figured you would appreciate a bit of assistance of being rid of it."

Zikel looked up to see where the voice was coming from, it was the blue alicorn he had met yesterday, he quickly regained his composure and turned away, wiping his tears away.

"Thank you...Princess Luna...you are most kind to do that for me. But I didn't ask for your help. Nor should you have done so. I am not deserving of any help from anyone."

LUna arched a brow at him, she walked up and around him so she could look up into his eyes, he pulls his head over his head more to block her view. She narrows her eyes at him when he does.

Zikel...something tells me you have been having this nightmare for a long time now. And the final part of it is a fresh add on. Did this happen before you were brought here?"

Zikel went silent for a moment, trying his best to not break down again, he began to speak, his voice was very shaky.

"Y-yes...the first part of my dream has haunted me since childhood, and now this. I..I didn't abandon anyone! There was nothing I could do!. So why do I feel so guilty about it?! I wanted to help them, I really did, but it was too late!"

Zikel was about to go into another fit of sadness when he suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around him, then another...and another. He opened his eyes to see his mother and father at first, both looking like they were just fine and smiling up to him lovingly. His body still shaking hard

"It is alight Zikel....you need to let this go my sweet boy. We know you didn't abandon us. We told you to leave us behind...you need to stop this self torment...and let it go my dear."

"Your mother is right my boy. It is time you moved on from this. And I am proud of what a fine man you have grown up to be. And I am even prouder that you have mastered our legacy..."

"Mother...father...I miss you so so much...A day hasn't gone by when I wish we could be a family again. How are you even here though..?"

"We...don't know Zikel, but its only temporary, but we are so happy...to see you have matured and doing well for yourself. We love you so much Zikel. And we hope you find happiness in the new world you have been brought to. Try not to cause them too much trouble."

"Zikel, be safe my son, make your old man even more proud. We will be watching over you."

They hugged once more, Zikel holding on for dear life before than vanished, next was the children and the adults who all appeared to him, they weren't sickly at all from the plague, in fact they were fine. The children smiled and ran up to him

"Its the Living Shadow!"

They all exclaimed as they ran up to him. Zikel's eyes began to water up again as he saw the very faces he couldn't save.

"I...I am sorry...I couldn't...I didn't.."

Two of them grabbed his hands and continued to smile up at him, then others wrapped him in a hug.

No more being sad mister! We aren't mad at you at all!"

"That's right! We know you would have fought to save us if you had known!"

"We want you to know, we don't hurt anymore! We are all in a nice place now were pain no longer exists!"

"Yeah, so no more tears, Living Shadow!"

"Well, we gotta get back now. Our mothers are calling for us! Bye bye Living Shadow!"

He watched as they ran off and disappeared, he then looks to the group of adults, who did nothing but smile kindly to him. He walked up to them and looked between them, the elderly woman that spoke up for him approached.

"We miss your performances dear. You were the best entertainment we have had ever since you first appeared in the city. You be good now. Never let the kindness you have in your heart stray away."

The two merchants he often 'shopped' from came forth as well, patting him on the shoulder.

"You know bud...if we would have known that you went through all that when you were younger, we would have just given you what we could. But, you still paid us back for what you took. You may be a thief, but at least you give back what was owed. And we say, good on ya bud!"

"You...really all don't hold me at fault for any of your deaths? Even thought I said I would do anything for my fans?"

"Of course not, lad. The city was being over run and you couldn't get to all of us at once. Besides, we are in a better place now. So no need to worry about us! We will be seeing you now!"

They all waved to him as they turned away and walked,, vanishing like all the others. Zikel just stood there, his hands forming into fists, then releasing, two words escaping his mouth.

"Thank you...."

Luna walks up beside him after everything and smiles up to him

"You had a lot of people who loved you and still do where you are from. I allowed them temporary gateways to your dream realm. And it seems I made the right call."

"Thank you for doing so princess Luna...I can finally escape this nightmare and be done with it. Knowing all my friends and family don't blame me and are safe in a better place...I owe you big time."

"Well, since you say you owe me. I have a favor to ask. Would you willingly come back to the castle and speak with me and my sister? She realized she was a bit too forceful on trying to uncover who you are. And wishes to apologize and try again. And feel free to callme Luna, thats what my friends call me"

"After what you have just given me...I will comply. It seems the least I could do. And...your friend? I don't think I am deserving to have a friend that is royalty, especially since you are one of the rulers."

"But you don't see me as just a ruler do you? You see me as just another pony who wants to be your friend, right?"

"Well...yes, I didn't want to say that on account of offending you...but you are more down to earth than I thought."

Luna giggled and winked at him

"Wait till you get to know my sister. She is even more down to earth than me. Anyways, we will be awaiting your arrival in the afternoon. We will be sending a couple of guards to escort you by chariot. Which will be in about.....thirty minutes. So you need to wake up now. We look forward to your visit."

The dream faded to white and vanished, Zikel snaps his eyes open to the pitch darkness that was the shadow he rested in, he no longer had to face that nightmare any longer. Next Chapter: Act 5: A Friendlier Visit Than The Last Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 47 Minutes