I awoke with a groan. Sleeping under the log was not comfortable, but that wasn't why I groaned. No, a sort of weight had settled in my chest, not like in a physical way. But like a spear had been rammed into my soul. While the pain was still intense, but felt like it had gone numb with age.

Even with the numbness, I could practically feel the weight of the spear still embedded in my left side.

I continued to lay there, despite being physically ok, a brief turn of the head confirmed I did not in fact, have a spear impaled in me. But it felt so real. Like I could grab this thing in my teeth and yank it out.

"... Why?" I moaned in pain. “Were those dreams or…” I paused “Memories?” I remembered each and every single thought and emotion. “That was no dream…” I murmur. Despite the pain, I pushed myself up “If it wasn’t a dream, and is indeed a memory, then I’m an immortal alien parasite?” I asked myself.

“No!” I shouted. “I refuse to be some ‘pony pincess of the night!” I shouted.

“And what would I remember?!” I growled.

“And how does that fit in for me right now?” I asked with no small amount of sarcasm. “I have yet to claim vengeance over anyone I promised vengeance to.” I said with an eye roll.

“No…”

“No, somehow you’re still lying.”

“Making someone pay in their dreams? You’ve got to be kidding me!” I stomped a front hoof. “What kind of psychological problem are you?! Trying to make me believe in some fairy tale world where I’m a fucking pony Princess of the Night who was betrayed by her older sister?!” I shouted, the ache in my chest made me wince. “The voices and hallucinations need to stop!”

“Yes…” I said hesitantly, first getting a look at my darkening surroundings.

“You know what?! I think I fucking will!” I growled, stomping again. “One last experiment to prove that you’re fake, I’m still human, and then you can finally snuff it!” I stated as I began making my way towards where I thought the small town was.

It took several minutes of walking for the smooth voice to speak up again.

I turned my head to look at the feathery appendages I had honestly forgotten about. Thanks to the odd ‘memories’ I could move them with ease.

“I could.” I responded, giving them an experimental flap. “I’m not going to, but I could.”

“Plenty curious, but they’re fake!” I exclaimed. “Just like you!” I stated as I crept out of a bush across a dark football field. “Now shut up!”

The field turned out to be part of a park that was on the outskirts of the small town. So I was able to creep quietly into the residential district. I dove into several bushes as costumed children walked into view.

Should I just wait for the first poor victims that are out of view or find an ideal position?

“No, it’s time to end this nonsense once and for all.” I leaped out of the bush behind a group and followed behind them.

And then I did my best imitation of a banshee with this higher, female voice I was apparently stuck with, flaring the wings out as I did so.

“Jesus fucking Christ!”

“AIIIEEEEE!”

“Ghost! WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!”

“WHAT IS THAT THING?!

Needless to say, they took a quick look, panicked and then made for the hills. I sat on my rump in defeat.

“It’s real…” I stammered, coming to the inevitable conclusion. I wasn’t insane. I might as well be, having come to the answer. But I wasn’t. I felt my haunches hit the sidewalk. MY HAUNCHES. MY HORN. MY WINGS.

None of any of this was real until right that moment. Truthfully, if it turned out I WAS insane, that would’ve been easy... So very easy... Check myself into the nearest hospital and demand a psychologist. It wasn’t like they practiced shock therapy anymore, and I would’ve recognized that I had a very major problem. But this? That I actually WAS an immortal alien Pony Princess of the Night? This whole mess just became so complicated that I didn’t know what to do.

I spread my wings and flapped hard. I was above the buildings in an instant. I silently ghosted over the town, not really paying attention to where I was going.

I eventually found myself on their water tower, curled into the closest thing I could to a fetal position laying on my right side. The weight of the imaginary spear felt like it was pointing upwards, unbothered by the floor below. It didn’t even dawn on me that I technically first flew. I had, after all, apparently had done it before anyway.

“Shut up…” I cried, tears beginning to soak into my OLD coat.

“SHut up.” I hiccuped.

“SHUT UP!” I shouted, standing up as I do so.

“SILENCE!” I ordered. My voice echoing off the trees and buildings in the distance.

“I don’t want to be Luna…” I murmured, sinking back down.

“Who’s up there?” called a distorted voice down below.

“Eep!” I yelped. Cautiously, I took a peek over the edge. Down below was a car with flashing red and blue lights. Next to the police car was a uniformed man with a megaphone. I felt my ears lay back.

I could reply, and get caught. I could fly and try to sneak away.

“Sneaking away sounds nice.” I extended my wings and leaped.

“WhAT THE FACK IS THAT?!” the officer below yelled. A bright light illuminated me in the night sky.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Things zipped by in the air.

Almost on instinct I felt magic run through my horn as I lowered it downwards. A brilliant teal laser scorched the air in front of me and beamed down. The bright light that was being shown at me fell.

And here we take our first true foray into the dark.
But sadly, it shall not be the last.