A LIGHT THAT NEVER COMES

CHAPTER VIII - GOD SYNDROME

     The clicking of his perfectly manicured hooves echoed against the walls.  The clouds were still dark, although it was almost morning.  The pink glow from his horn eventually illuminated his father's side.

"Cali, you're awake," his gruff voice said, the unicorn halting at his side.  The difference in their appearances wasn't entirely the same nor different.

"Of course I'm awake," Calm Mind snapped, the light from his horn going out.  "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I heard you moaning in your sleep last night," Haki said, the crimson from his eyes matching most of Calm Mind's.  "I had walked past your door, and it sounded like you were having a nightmare."

"So you thought my sleep was disturbed?"  Calm Mind interrogated.  "Why would you even listen?"

"You're my son," Haki said, his shameful eyes casting themselves to the floor.  "I feel horrible for what I've done to you."

"You should," Calm Mind retorted bluntly.  "I hate you."

"I understand," Haki said softly.  "I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"You don't."

"I'll spend my life making it up to you."

"I don't care," Calm Mind said, his horn sparking.  Both knew Calm Mind had lied.  "I'm leaving."

"Stay safe."

"Don't bother," Calm Mind snapped back.

       The hazy streets kept Calm Mind hidden.  He watched from the rooftops, the plague doctor mask obscuring his face.  His eyes darted around the foggy lens, searching for a specific pony.  A criminal.  A felon.  He had to.  He wouldn't be able to sleep if he didn't.  .. actually, he wouldn't be able to sleep regardless. He was so filled with rage all the time, for everything his father had done to him. The agony he had been put through. The torture. The murder of Calm Mind's mother. The blood that soaked into his coat while his father tried to strangle him. The realization of what Haki had done set in days later. And what happened?
Simple, Emperor Dante had died, and General Haki Quinsy of the Yruxwood Empire became the stand-in king. At least, until Calm Mind, known to the civilians as Grandmaster Shinigami, the true heir, was schooled and bred.
To that, Calm Mind simply wanted to tell bat ponies kind to shove it. He hated life being planned ahead for him. Destinies were foolish interpretations of what ponies thought was living, and Calm Mind wanted to have some thrill.
    He adjusted his mask, spotting a suspicious pony loitering around. He recognized the mug that had plastered the streets for weeks before they had been caught, Calm Mind deciding now was the time to strike.  He casted an invisibility spell, then pounced.
His hooves combined with the shoulders of the bigger earth pony, causing the mammal to collapse in shock and agony.  Calm Mind glanced about, taking note nopony saw, then teleported with the body. 
Calm Mind sharpened his axe, hearing movement behind him.  The pony woke up, screaming in panic. 

"Where- where am I?"

"Hush, now," Calm Mind cooed.  His pink magic levitated the blade, observing the clean silver.  The red bandana that he had wrapped the handle stared back in excitement.  "You don't need to be afraid."

"Who the hell are you?!"  The pony brayed, Calm Mind looking to him. 

"What does it truly matter?"  Calm Mind queried, coming closer.  "I'm doing this to redeem your sorry soul."

"Redeem?  What- what are you talking about?"

"You don't remember?  You murdered an innocent mare," Calm Mind said, his eyes narrowing.  "She was pregnant.  Five months.  An innocent mare."

"What?  I was innocent- set up!  You think you're some fucking deity?!"

"Well, my little pony, who, pray tell, will try to stop me?"  Calm Mind mocked, tightening the straps on the gurney.  "The good have always died.  Why is that?"

"You're fucking crazy!"

"Your sins will only be forgiven on these grounds," Calm Mind whispered, his axe glistening in the light.  "I'll use your organs to save the less fortunate.  Even you can save another, after all."

"You- you're a monster!"  The pony shrieked, trying to break free.  "Oh- oh, by the Queen- get the hell away from me!"

Calm Mind held the axe above him, getting ready to swing.  "Don't look at me like that.  If only you could see your face.. I'm sure the expecting mother made the same face, after all."

"H-hey, listen, please don't kill me- please.  I- I won't tell anypony- I- I promise-"

"Begging for mercy?"  Calm Mind questioned, waiting for him to continue speaking.  The pony had tears racing down his cheeks and had probably wet himself.  "Really?  You really are guilty.  A monster.  A waste of magic.. but, you'll suffice.  I'm sure those beautiful specimens will do somepony else a lot of good, don't you?"

"I don't want to die-!"

"Neither did she!"  Calm Mind howled, spit flying from his muzzle and sharp canines protruding from his gums.  His vision worsened, and he was able to feel his horn sparking.  "You think you're allowed to take an innocent pony's life away?  Do you?  Do you?!  She had a foal!  You didn't just kill her- no, no, you killed her foal!  What kind of sick, twisted, monster does something like that?!"

"I didn't mean to!"  The stallion screamed. "It was an accident!  I didn't mean to hit her so hard!"

"..excuse me?"  Calm Mind muttered, the pony realizing what he said.  "So you wanted to hurt her?  Her skull was collapsed.  Her stomach?  Crushed.  She had been stabbed 17 times.  You're saying her death was accidental?"

"I- I- I'm so sorry-"

"Rot in Tartarus." 

Calm Mind's axe caved into the stallion's head, a sickening crush and splatter of crimson joining it.  The stallion didn't even have time to scream. 
Calm Mind washed the blood out of his coat, then double checked that all the organs were meticulously wrapped in their respective freezers.  His tools were spotless.  The floor had blood on it still, but he'd clean that when he went back upstairs.  He looked at the hollow, skinned remains, then smiled. 
He moved the gurney steadily down the stairs, before opening the door at the bottom.  He looked out at the clear ocean, where a storm continued on.  Thunder roared as Calm Mind scrapped the remains into the ocean.  He heard the door upstairs open, feeling a wave of panic.  He ran upstairs, preparing his scrapper.  He turned the corner, seeing a rather small yellow alicorn who's ears perked up at seeing Calm Mind.  He collapsed against the large pegasus as Calm Mind went to strike him.  Calm Mind felt a sharp pain in the back of head, then blacked out.