https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS6HX2m-HNY

Life felt like a curtain of white noise for Fear right now; blanketing him like a few feet of snow, smothering him in sorrow and depression; unable to feel much of anything, except that lingering sadness that pierced him to the core. It was like this now and then, but right now it was the worst of all. A gentle thrumming of numbness and solemnity that had no comparison. It left Fear's eyes drooping, nearly trapping them closed, and his jaw unable to move. He laid in an odd contortion on a bed, the bed belonging to a friend of his father's, covered in ancient, thinning, dirty mauve and scarlet sheets with unusual designs splattered across them. One of Fear's hooves dangled off the side and his head rested on a flattened pillow, his head pointed forward; neck twisted to the right; an unnatural angle most would consider painful. With a glassy stare Fear couldn't bring himself to do anything. He was glad they were stopping in Hour Town on the way to Neighvada for a couple days, because Fear wasn't sure he was capable of much.

A gentle sigh that became a tumultuous roar by the end escaped Fear's lips.

Fear couldn't move.

Fear couldn't sleep.

Fear couldn't stand to be awake.

The colt had been thoughtless off and on during his depressive state, occasionally groaning as if in his death throes, before contemplating his guilt over his sister's death and those he had killed once more. It weighed on his consciousness like an anvil, burying him six feet under, making him wish he were dead. He felt strongly, and he cared deeply, and with that self back to the forefront he was, at the same time, not himself at all. He couldn't feel bouncy and excited in this oppressive, miasmic mood. And then the tsunami of thoughts started once more.

How could you get any worse, Fear?

I don't know, kill the whole town? Fuck it. Be glad I'm not worse, stop judging me.

You don't deserve to use that excuse, just because the wasteland's hard doesn't give you a reason to be sour and mope in bed all the time.

Fear screwed his eyes shut, quivering in the bed. He knew it was damaging to think this way, but he couldn't help it.

Try going out and meeting ponies, be part of their life.

Fear let out a snort, his nostrils flaring, eyes peeling open, ruby irises glowing like starlight.

But I don't want to, what if they find out and don't want anything to do with me? Fear curled up in a ball on the bed, shivering as if a chill was penetrating down to his bone marrow. I can't take that rejection.

Fear peered out of one eye when he heard his mother's voice. You're just young and inexperienced. Rejection isn't that hard my little Nightlight.

The colt huffed as he held the conversation with what felt like three parts of him, one of which didn't feel like him at all. Says you, I don't want to experience anymore pain.

Fervor came back at him, as if bouncing off the ropes of a wrestling ring and swinging at him violently. Well you have to, you're not going to get anywhere by being in bed all the time, have some fucking courage. Embrace the pain, enjoy it, because when things finally get better, and they will... when you finally get to breathe, you're going to be happier than you ever have before.

The optimism in those statements was garish and scathing. It felt like a blinding light searing away a vampire's flesh. But I'm not happy, I can't be happy. I lost my happiness many times over.

Fear's inner voice wasn't dead. Then pull it back from the abyss, pull it back from Tartarus, pull EVERYTHING and the wasteland ITSELF out of Tartarus. Just get on your hooves and MOVE, Fear. The colt was starting to think his inner voice was immortal.

Fine. If it'll make you shut the fuck up I'll MOVE.

Fear ground his teeth together and slid out of bed like a slug, hitting the floor in a heap and moaning like a zombie. He dragged a hoof along the floorboards before eventually finding the power in his muscles to stand. His countenance was wobbly and exhausted, as if he hadn't slept in days, but he was up and moving.

Blurring across Fear, melting into sludge, was the abode a friend of Sim's had lent to them for their short stay. With his depression things mixed together and lost all detail and defining features. It was difficult to pay attention while in this soggy mire. Fear eventually left the home, his jaw hinging open and intaking a huge lungful of air until his knees quaked under him, as if he'd just awoken from a coma. Fear smacked his lips and stepped out into the gray and brown wasteland. He looked right, then left. Across from him was a row of houses and other buildings, behind him was the same. It was just one long strip of road with many structures spanning the sides. With a sign on the outskirts that said 'WELCOME TO OUR TOWN.' Which was super weird in Fear's opinion, because who named a town that? It had to be 'hour.' The 'H' must've just been rubbed off to time, after all, most of the other letters could barely be made out. Fear wouldn't let the logic of there not being room for an 'H' detract him.

That stubbornness felt good on his soul. He wanted to believe fleeting, meaningless details. It helped him feel like he had a grip on the world, like what he thought mattered.

Then the background sound of somepony shouting became clear to him. He looked down the road, his jaw hanging open at the sight of somepony preaching.

The mare looked to be some kind of hobo priestess... or something. It caused Fear to cock his head to the side. She was so dusty and dirty, as if she hadn't had a bath in a long time. Maybe it didn't appeal to her? Maybe she didn't have time or opportunity? Maybe she didn't care? Fear took in her visage more. She was an earth pony, interestingly enough. Fear had discarded his unicorn supremacy awhile ago, but there would always be hints of it, those little temptations whispering to him that he was the best solely because he was a unicorn. Fear put himself back on track and examined her more, analyzing her salmon pink mane, the numerous silver streaks arcing through it, how it was wavy with the bangs braided and tied around her head like a laurel, her tail braided as well. It caught Fear by surprise, that such mane styles could still exist. She'd look gorgeous if she just bathed, especially with that intense sky blue coat of fur that could probably use a trim. Fear looked a little closer, noting her cutiemark, an object he didn't recognize, but was a white piledriver. What he did recognize was the symbol of the two sisters seemingly etched into it. Laying right behind her, under one of her rear hooves, was an interesting... object, that Fear didn't understand either. It had three limbs, and at the base, in the middle, was a ring that a hoof could fit through, but it also had marks where the teeth rested. On two of the sides were a pair of short pegasus wings that looked rather high tech, and on the top what looked like a unicorn horn (as long as a rifle's barrel) with an eddie etched into it where, obviously, power surged through. He slowly made his way toward her, her speech becoming more audible by the second as he was yanked out from his reverie.

“Friendship is beautiful! It leads to harmony! And with harmony of the soul comes healing! With friendship we have stability! We all need to band together to make the wasteland a better place! The future is all we have!”

Fear seemed a little put off by Mcshoutsalot in the distance, but was nonetheless intrigued by what she had to say. It wasn't often he heard such optimistic blather spouted from somepony else. Even his father was rather reserved about it.

A pony that didn't quite stand out to Fear, which he would eventually chastise himself for not trying to remember, approached Fear, staring at him, then the mare he was watching. “Are you new here or just young?”

Fear didn't look at the pony, just staring at the strange mare who kept shouting things. “Mh. A little of both.” His voice sounded dazed, after all he'd only recently pulled himself out of the murky muck of himself.

“Huh, well that's Faithdriver. She's a preacher. She comes by every few months to speak to us. Very loud and a little obnoxious in public, but in all honesty...? In private she's the sweetest pony you ever met.”

Fear glanced to the pony, who was various shades of muted red and brown, then back to this... Faithdriver. Newfound interest summoned to his eyes. He ignored the pony and started trotting up to the preacher with his head tilted to the side. She was saying something about the two sisters and then...

“The Unity doesn't understand! The path to alicorn-hood is not a physical journey, but a spiritual one! It is when we accept our brothers and sisters for who they are that we find harmony, and all three will become one. It is when we put aside our differences and unite that we find the alicorn inside all of us!”

Fear snorted at that, not believing a word of that superstitious mumbojumbo. Still, it sounded very pleasant on the ears, and on his soul. How could he reject it fully?

Faithdriver then noticed she was being watched. She went silent and turned to face the colt. There was a flaming determination in her ocean blue eyes the likes of which he'd never seen. It was as if the fear of Tartarus itself had been driven into her and only given her strength, the brilliance of the sun itself being mined out of the challenges she'd faced. She almost looked like she might blow up at him, like such energy was contained within her that she was a ticking time bomb, but Fear didn't back down. “Hello little colt, what's your name?” Her voice was gentle compared to what she'd sounded like before, as if she were trying to usher in armageddon at first.

“Uh...” Fear was at a loss for words, his eyes dilated past their maximum as he stared at her slack-jawed. Shaking his head a moment later, he cleared his mind and spoke. “Fearei Shatter, miss... Faithdriver?”

“Faith is fine, sweetie. So you heard me preaching huh, Fearei?” Her voice was soft yet powerful, resonating with everything that made Fear who he was. It clawed at his soul and dragged it to the surface, pushing back the haze that was hanging over his mind, exposing him for who he was. It was violating and comforting all at once.

“Fear is, uh, good.” He rubbed the back of his head with a hoof, gently caressing his mane. “But yeah, I did. You have a really, uh, powerful voice. I can tell you believe what you're talking about.” In his addled state it was a little difficult to come up with a compliment, but he felt like it was right to try.

“Of course I believe! I have many stories, some I've memorized from the good book, and others are my own personal experiences.”

The two were quiet for a moment. Faith was kind enough to give Fear time to think, able to tell he was having a difficult time. “Stories huh? Anything inspirational?” The colt found himself more desperate than he'd thought for something incredible, ravenous for the material.

“That depends Fear, what inspires you?” Faith gave him a gentle smile that shimmered in her dynamic eyes.

Fear looked off to the side, his tail whipping to the other, narrowing his eyes. “Well... I've been having a hard time with regrets lately. It's paralyzing, bringing me to a standstill. I can't get out of my... mire.”

“So stories of redemption then? I have just the thing.”

Fear's attention snapped to Faith at that, feeling numb all of a sudden, but a much different kind of numb. This one was just dumb and dazed than heavy and hazy.

Faith cleared her throat for a moment, and then began what she was... maybe best at? Preaching. “Long ago before the war started there was an impoverished potter, somepony who makes pots, named Golden Link. A mare by the name of Raven Inkwell was busy searching high and low for somepony who could make a special pot for her leader.” Faith had a slight smirk on her face. “She eventually came to Link and asked him for his best work. A few days later he produced his results, and wouldn't you know it? It was completely horrible. The most ugly thing you ever did see. Raven couldn't bring herself to look at it, it was such an insult to the senses. She told Link just as much, talking about how she'd never pay for such shoddy craftsmanship.”

“Link, with a knowing smile on his face, asked Raven if she might be willing to give him one more chance. Raven, not having much faith in ponies who failed once, was very reluctant to give him a chance. After all he'd just proved himself to be a terrible potter, how could he possibly ever improve? But against what she thought at the time was the right choice, she agreed. One more chance and she'd be back in a week, giving him a little more time to work.”

“Well, when Raven came back the next week the most extraordinary sculpted pot was there waiting for her. It was gorgeous, the most beautiful thing she ever laid eyes on. The sheer beauty of it was enough to make her break down into tears. She never believed it was possible that this potter, somepony who had failed to prove himself the first time, could take the raw material and recraft it into something almost supernatural. Raven took the pot, spreading word of the potter's skills and paid him handsomely.”

Fear was a little uncertain. It was okay, but he could tell she wasn't done.

“Later, a horrible accident occurred and that once extravagant pot was shattered into many pieces. Raven decided to go get a new one, but was asked by Link to bring her the old. Not knowing what could possibly be done about it, she agreed. After all, he'd proven himself once before. Maybe he just wanted to see his work one final time before it was thrown away? Either way, she humored him. Confusing her, Link told her to come back in a few days, he was going to work around the clock in order to restore it to its former glory. Raven, not knowing what to think, agreed yet again. And when she came back... a miracle was waiting for her. The pot and all its pieces had been repaired with the the finest golden glue she could imagine. It sparkled in the light and gave the once destroyed piece of art a whole new facet to its existence.”

“The moral of the story is, we are all artisans that are working on ourselves. As long as we wait to set, we can continue balling the clay up and recreating our sheer potential into something amazing. We do not need to let our past define us if we can continue building ourselves and everything around us anew. And often when the present breaks us, we can rebuild that potential with hard work and the right tools. Our futures are greater than our pasts. Never forget that, Fear.”

Fear was tearing up, completely enamored with the story and moral, sniffling a little. It didn't reach quite as deep as he hoped, but it was enough. Not a cure all, but certainly a salve. “When I was younger – I don't know how much, I've lost track of the time – I did an awful thing. I killed a couple innocents...” Fear stroked one foreleg with another. “Maybe more. I don't... really recall. Just my first real kills.” He bit hard on his lower lip. “I've tried my life since then to make up for it, but eventually my sister was taken from me, similar to how my mother was. And I just... I was too weak to protect her, to heal her. I was too weak to fight myself. And I was... I couldn't handle myself. And I'm still, to this day, regretting... everything.”

Faith lifted a hoof and put it on the stammering, rambling colt's shoulder. “There is still hope for you, for everypony. You are young, you are naive, I can see it in your eyes. You have potential. Fear, never let anypony convince you otherwise. You can make amends, you can change yourself, and you have the power to unite others.” The mare glanced to Fear's side, looking at his flanks. “You may end up collecting more ponies than you can imagine within the depths of your whirl. Have faith.” The smile on Faith's face was giant.

Fear was... uncomfortable. But inspired. He felt more understood than ever, and it caused a pleasant warmth to blossom in his chest and bubble up his throat, seeping out his eyes in the form of heated tears. They stained his cheeks as he sniffled and sobbed, weeping openly in front of her. Was it understanding, or was he just flattered? He couldn't tell. But for once in what felt like forever there was a true sense of genuine hope, not something he'd created himself, but something somepony else created for him, something that couldn't be killed by natural causes. He hiccuped a few times, feeling like the downward spiral was going in reverse. “Thank you... Th-thank you. Th... thank you, Faith.” He gulped down air. “I hope we can see each other again. Maybe... if you want. You can come to Neighvada with my father and me?”

Faith's smile only seemed to grow larger, her eyes sparkling. “I will... consider it, Fear. I will give you my answer in the morning. Until then, take care of yourself.”

Fear nodded a few times, trying to catch his breath, and made his way back to the house to rest. He felt more exhausted than ever before all of a sudden, but this time like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he was feeling tired for the first time in his life. His face was gaunt and eyes sunken, rings around them. Everything once more blurred together as he headed to bed in order to finally... finally sleep. All while thinking of his sister. The radiant Amelioreit Reverie.

==========================================================================================

The guilty colt's nightmares returned in full force. He was hiding behind a rock, the only cover available to him in the vast, limitless expanse around him, obscured on the edges only by an impermeable fog. He was huddled together with his father, mother, and sister. A giant, ferocious radbeast was stalking them. How had it found them? How had it gotten through their senses? It didn't matter. Everything just fell into place in dreams like this, logic didn't reign. Just feelings. His father and mother, fading in and out, got out from behind cover to try and attack the radbeast. But all Fear heard a moment later was the wet ripping of flesh, moist slashes, and the loud sounds of evisceration and bodies being torn apart and devoured by a vocal eater. Fear cowered, his sister trying to comfort him. They were all alone. Then Amelio said something, Fear tried to stop her, but before he could she was surging around the corner to do what their parents couldn't. Fear spun around to try and pull her back to safety but before he could the fearsome beast was upon her.

But before teeth could sink into his sister's body, a loud bzzorp flashed through the air, coming from nothingness, and blasted into the beast's side, scorching into it and causing the entire thing to glow before splattering into motes of light with the shattering of glass. Fear blinked, and a moment later his surroundings were cleaved by a huge divide, a crevice reaching into the abyss, and it was only growing. Fear yelped and panicked, rushing away from it, trying to run, his sister becoming bleary and disappearing as he suddenly heard a voice.

Fear twisted around, looking into the abyss, his dreambubble shredded apart, and saw in the distance so many different orbs of light sharing with him various images, from garish terrors to warm paradises. His breath hitched in his throat. Then he heard the voice again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QcRAq8CtUo

Merging into Fear's sight was his sister. No longer young like she once had been. Now she looked aged and gray. Like she could fall apart at the slightest stress. She looked far more mature and regal too, as if she'd aged decades and Fear had stayed the same. The mare's body was floating in the air, her body dangling under her freely. Her eyes were completely whitewashed, before they eventually regained their violet and sapphire luster as the power receded. A gentle smile crossed her face, and she tilted her head to the side. “Good to see you again, Fear.”

Fear's mouth opened and closed like a dying fish, his eyes full of tears. “A... Ame?” The colt moved forward, a disbelieving look on his face. “My guardian Moon Angel?” He gave a loud, ungodly sniff.

Amelio nodded once, confirming it, her face seeming to distort, her motions blurred. Fear's body suddenly felt sluggish, impossible to move. “Yes. Come with me. I have much to show you.” Before Fear could react Amelio bolted toward her brother, hooking their forelegs together, and rocketing off with him, an ultrasonic blast being unleashed in their wake. And then soon an explosion of light expelling out from the two, pulsing outward like a ripple on a pond, as they sped up even further. Though there was no wind resistance to speak of.

Everything around the pair became gnarled and morphed, what was ahead of them suddenly behind. It felt less like they were moving and more like everything around them was gliding past them. Fear saw a dot of light in the distance, like a far away star. It caught his vision and held it.

Amelio spoke softly, comfortingly. Stealing his attention away and holding it on her, though Fear's eyes sometimes seemed to pass through her. “I want to tell you about my final dream Fear. The one during my death.”

Fear lightly nodded his head. “S-sure thing, Ame.”

“Mh. You have always been an inspiration to me brother, and that was true during my final moments. In my dream the three of us were back in Stable 47, and I was given the option to become Overmare once more, eventually. I accepted it because I was desperate to do something with my life. I ended up wearing the Seer's Eye proudly and I helped the stable avert disaster – I led it to prosperity, though eventually you decided you wanted to leave because your guilt was too much. However, I manipulated my dream. I ended up saying all the right things to get you to stay, and be with me. Forever. Despite you learning of our shared lineage. Eventually though, I knew I had to abandon that dreambubble.”

Fear had a quiet smile on his face. “I missed you, Ame.”

Amelio grinned broadly. “I missed you too, Fearei. And I am glad that you have not come to hate me.”

“Pshaw.” Fear bat a hoof as they got closer to their destination. “I could never hate you.”

“I am happy to hear that, Fearei.” She reached over to him and gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek that made Fear blush intensely. “I have been biding my time ever since, gathering my power, recovering my strength. Becoming one with the liminal space beyond what you could ever imagine. I have discovered there is a latent power to everything, even in the deepest reaches. This void exists within something, and when I need a boost I feed on it, nightmares, or Luna's treasure.”

“Luna? Princess Luna?” Fear sounded confused.

“One and the same. I found her during my sleep sometime before I died. I made an arrangement with her. You will learn it when we get to our goal.”

Fear looked ahead again, noticing another one of those orbs was getting alarmingly close. As they approached Fear put a foreleg over his face, their bodies careening into it. Instead of becoming a smear on the surface they just pierced right on through, together, as brother and sister. Amelio guided Fear, gliding down to the castle courtyard, same as when she'd first arrived there, and then led Fear into the castle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_boJmXqUYtg

As soon as the environment changed around them, seeping from one thing to another, having barely a threshold, Fear was caught by surprise when another mare came up to him, her hooves clopping on the carpet and staring deep into his soul with face just looking to brawl, her gaze harsh and violent, glaring daggers into the colt.

It was Saway.

Not that Fear knew that.

Amelio stood off to the side.

“So you're Fearei.” There was an appraising expression on Saway's features. “I must say, I'm not impressed. You're missing a certain... oomph.” Her voice matched the look in her eyes.

Fear sighed, appearing more weary than ever, as much as when he went to sleep. “Oh... shut up, I'm going through some shit.” He looked off to the side.

“No excuses. You have a lot to live up to, Fearei Shatter.” Saway slammed a hoof on the ground to get his attention.

Fear stomped forward, his jaw tightening as he got in her face, which was hard given how small he was. Despite that, their muzzles nearly touched, with Fear having to reach up to do it. Amelio let them be, knowing they weren't going to kill each other. “Yeah!? Well maybe I don't want to live up to everypony's expectations! Maybe I just wanna live in peace! I don't have to do shit and you can't make me!”

An indescribable tingling sensation passed between them. Something beyond them, beyond description, that reached into their timeless, limitless souls. It spanned past dreams and waking, past timelines, and past distance. There was a connection there, as if in some small way, they already knew each other.

“I can tell you don't mean that, and it feels like in another life we'd've been dire enemies.” Her voice was rough and raspy with murderous undertones.

“S-same.” Fear pushed out his lower lip, almost pouting, but not moving from his position. “F-fine. I'll... do whatever. I'm gonna try my best, I guess. I'm just complaining.”

Saway gave Fear an indecipherable look, seeming to analyze the colt. “You're a good kid, Fear. Just cut the excuses and be responsible.”

The two stared at each other, though Fear was the first to relent.

Saway had a knowing, amused gaze. “You're gonna need my assistance someday.”

Fear pawed at the ground as he stared at it. “P-probably. Probably going to need everypony's help someday. So why don't we just be friends?” He looked up at her with a hopeful smile, tilting his head to one side. “I scratch your back, you scratch mine.”

Saway smiled awkwardly. “Sounds like a plan, kid.” She held out her hoof to seal the deal.

Fear bumped hooves with her, but before he knew it Saway had latched on with sticky hooves and was lightly shaking their hooves up and down.

Amelio flowed past Fear. “Come, Fear. It is time to meet the Princess of Death.”

Fear's eyes widened slightly in surprise, his lips twisting up in confusion. “Princess of Death?” He quickly slipped past Saway to follow her.

“Take care of yourself, Kid.” Saway called out, pulling inward a little out of a sudden sense of loneliness. Fear waved back over his shoulder to the vicious mare.

“Luna, Fear.” Amelio stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Oh.” Fear went silent for a time as they walked down the long hallway that seemed endless, before speaking up again. “So who exactly was that?” The level of curiosity in his voice was intoxicating. “I feel like I know her. It's almost...” he shuddered, hackles rising on end. “Supernatural.”

“That is Saway.” Amelio's voice gave no leeway one way or another whether she appreciated or confided in the mare. “Far before the war she lived in Pugallup as an only foal, eventually moving in with a wealthy uncle when her parents passed away. She was on the brink for most of her life, trying to decide what it was she was supposed to do, thinking her talent was pushing the world off the cliff. But at the time it was already doing a fine enough job doing that on its own. Eventually she decided to join the Equestrian military to hurry it along, and through it ended up discovering her true talent, sawing apart preconceptions about how the world worked. She had been doing it all her life ever since before she got her cutiemark. Before she knew it she was in Luna's personal guard, her own preconceptions shattered.” The two of them passed through the lunar door into the vault room that the mare of the night used as her own personal quarters. “She was not in Canterlot the day the pink cloud hit because she was undergoing an experiment fusing nightmares to her soul in order to keep her living after death. Unfortunately it did not work quite as planned, and she is as you see her now. She was alive for years after the bombs hit though, just clinging to life until her body gave out and her consciousness went to sleep. It was a complex ritual to weaponize the nightmares without letting it consume her identity.” She shook her head a little, as if disappointed in one of the many things she said.

Before Fear could react to any of that, of which he had no idea how to, he saw Luna in the distance and gasped, freezing up. “Holy shit, she's a wreck!”

Luna sighed, looking more unamused than ever. Amelio just chortled loudly.

“What is she doing here!? Why isn't she... out there? Doing stuff? Doing something?” Fear was frazzled by this new information, looking from Luna to Amelio and back again.

The princess gave Fear a dirty look as she approached them. She was getting really tired of this, especially from somepony like Fear, she could see his sins. They were written on his face.

Amelio spoke. “She has been horrified by the dreams of destruction so many ponies have had. So many violent, depraved dreams that she has hidden herself away.” Then she went silent.

Fear shot both of them an understanding, yet defiant glance. A weird contradiction of expressions.

Luna took Fear in wholly, finding it hard to believe he was capable of what she needed of him, and even more-so, she was reluctant to believe. She didn't want to face her own issues. Besides, she was an alicorn and she couldn't overcome, how could a colt like Fear possibly achieve what she had never been able to? Luna snorted at him.

After a little tension, Fear finally spoke up. “The world doesn't revolve around your feelings, nor mine.” A lesson he had learned while with Angel and Crate. “It's okay for things to not be okay.” Something he'd only learned just now, when realizing that everypony was in the same boat as him. “It's a process. Life is miserable but we don't have to let it kill our light. I'm...” Fear was uncertain, remembering his mother. “I'm a nightlight.”

Luna sighed, her eyes revolving in their sockets. “I have done an enormous amount of wrong, Fear. Countless irredeemable acts have been cast by my hoof. I became Nightmare Moon and hurt my sister and ponies. Even after being redeemed, I still brought Equestria to war over a misunderstanding that turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy. I brought death and suffering to countless: past, present, and future. I condemned Goldenblood, and I do not know anymore if all I did was right or wrong. My errors in judgment have cost the lives and well-being of so many of my little ponies. I do not deserve to face them, let alone serve them.” Luna was looking down at the ground with a sorrowful, heavy countenance.

Fear sucked in a desperate breath of air as there was a pause in everything.

“And even now,” Luna continued, “I can feel your pain stabbed through your heart like a stake. Your crumbling will, all you have experienced. You are just as damaged as everypony else.”

Fear took a long time to speak, swaying on his hooves from the sheer gravity of what he was told, able to feel Luna's emotions. “You have to come back though. We need you, and we have to redeem ourselves!”

“I cannot be redeemed.”

Fear remembered everything in the short period of time, his conversations with Amelio and Faith. “Spirals are a symbol of change. Anything and everything can change, as long as you don't let it set.”

Silence permeated the air.

“Well.” Luna started. “As Amelio has proposed, I have a test for you. If you can overcome your demons, then I will accept that the wasteland and I can as well, and will continue to watch over their dreams and nightmares.”

Fear's eyes lit up, a smile crossing his face, not knowing at all what was in store for him but more excited than ever before. He recognized his chance for redemption, standing tall and proud, puffing out his chest.

Luna guided Fear out of the room at an incapacitated pace, back to the throne room and then to the door behind Celestia's throne. It was just a dark room that Fear, Amelio, and Luna stared into. Fear was just busy thinking. Am I capable of any of this? Really truly? “So, what should I expect? What am I supposed to do? What kind of test is this? You'll hold your end of the bargain right?” He fired off questions rapidly, not even waiting for one answer before announcing another.

Luna refrained from answering all but the last question. “Fearei Shatter, if you can overcome these trials I will do everything in my power to watch over ponies once more.” And before Fear could react Luna shoved Fear through the door, then slammed it shut. “Good luck.” She called out with a voice full of condemnation. And then the door clicked, locking behind him.

Fear glanced around in the dark void, suddenly very afraid. Before he could react though, the room lit up with a glaringly white light, nearly blinding him.

Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMuuzByCNs Fear and Amelio.