Page 49 of Celestia, Year Four

Normally, I'd be fine with it, but I felt impatient and bothered with their extra affection.

"As a Dark Rider, no. He'll feel the darkness but assume it's a Forsaken. He's looking for light magic. So is the High Council," Odion replied and lowered his hand. "Celestia, why did you shift."

"Neigh," I huffed and moved so my head was between the two of them; Odion was to my right and Orion to my left.

Neither of them could back away, as my wings curled around the two, stopping them from chickening out. I needed them to face one another.

Odion sighed. "She wants us to let go of the pain we harbor."

"How do you know that?"

"I'm a Dark Rider. Many believe we instill darkness, but it's the opposite. We remove darkness from people's hearts or growing emotions that can plant a seed of darkness within the body and absorb it into ourselves."

Orion blinked, looking completely taken aback by the definition. In this form, I understood Odion's description, feeling the darkness inside me and the urge to remove the negativity from both of them.

"You're saying that the definition for Dark Riders is completely wrong," Orion concluded.

"Essentially. Now, knowing the Council's true colors, it makes sense. They wanted chaos to spread so we'd all attack one another. They wouldn't allow Dark Riders to do their duties to rid darkness from people. We use our bodies as hosts of the energy and have ways to turn it into power, but it doesn't defy our own strength. It's a temporary boost. I didn't figure it out until I entered the Dark World and Esme explained it. I was never evil. The people were just influenced by the Council and the adults that spoke poorly of me. They knew where I was being sent off to. It was all a setup. Just like they left Esme to die in the forest or allowed that Rhinroy to send Celestia flying through the barrier and just inches away from the dark forest. If I hadn't used a wind spell, she would have died from the impact, and she definitely wouldn't have landed where she did," Odion explained casually.

That was something new, piquing my interest enough for me to nudge my head on his arm playfully.

"Neigh!" I thanked.

"Yes, I… protected you. You're welcome," Odion mumbled as he began to blush.

"Why can't you show that side?" Orion whispered.

Odion looked at Orion who appeared defeated.

"Why are you afraid to show the world that you're really good? Countless times you've saved us. You were in the forest during our exam. You were lurking in the chaotic halls when the Forsaken outbreak happened and you led me straight to the girl's washroom where Celestia was. You gave blood to Theo when his own peers abandoned him to die. You've helped us countless times, all behind the scenes as if you don't matter. I'm upset because I want you to realize you DO matter, brother. Why are you afraid of revealing the truth and taking the credit you deserve?" Orion pleaded.

"Opening yourself to the world only makes breathing hurt more." Odion's voice was cold and his eyes went black. "What has kindness and righteousness done for me when we were kids? He's a know it all. He'll cause trouble and problems. He'll be a leader but bring his teammates down. It didn't matter what good I did. Whether I saved kids who were seconds away from being attacked by Forsaken or times when they got bullied by other kids. Everyone was kind when they needed help, but the moment I turned my back, they talked poorly about me and forgot the gestures I'd done for them. Why show a weak… pathetic side to people who will use it against you?"

"You know I wouldn't use it against you. Neither would the others," Orion stated confidently. "This isn't like back when we were kids, and I couldn't defend you. I saw what they did. I heard the mean words they would say and spread across town. Father sent you to be trained so you'd learn the greatness in yourself and not be brought down by the rumors of the shifters around us. We… none of us knew what was really happening… and I can't say I’m sorry enough. Nothing I can do and say will erase the lingering wounds. I know you still carry the pain from those days and the days after living in the Dark World. I know you are still doing your duties as a Dark Rider to help lower the growing chaos brewing day by day. I'm not telling you to change or get rid of the confident side of you, Odion. I'm not telling you to remove the walls you put on the surface. I'm asking you as your brother… let me in. Even if the rest of the world won't learn to understand you… I will. The others are just as open-minded, and once they hear the truth, they'll defend you too."

The thick blackness in his eyes faded slightly as Odion stared intently into Orion’s eyes.

"The past will just repeat itself… and then I'll be left a fool," Odion defended.

"The past will NOT repeat itself. If we are the reincarnation of the past Princes, I won't let you be cast as the enemy. We may be weaker in power due to our immaturity compared the past where we had years of training and experience, but you and I are brothers, made from the same cloth. No one will be able to manipulate our judgment of you, and once the High Council is out of the way, we'll work together to make laws. We’ll fix the damage and reveal the truth, not to just the professors or a secluded set of adults. Everyone far and wide will know that Dark Riders are good and eventually we'll figure out a way to see the difference between the darkness that Mother Nature created to test us, and those who are just created in their own unique ways. Give us a chance, Odion. You can feel the truth in my words. Please… let me back into your life."

Odion looked down at his feet, and my gaze caught the first set of tears that left his eyes.

"Why… do you always have to talk like a smarty pants..." He sniffed, and I lifted my head to nudge lightly against his face.

"I'm technically the smart twin." Orion chuckled, his voice thick with tears.

"Neigh!" I stomped my foot and lowered my head.

"What does she want us to do?" Orion asked.

"Uh… she wants us to place our hands on her horn? Celestia… that's a tad sensitive," Odion pointed out.

I let out a stream of smoke from my nostrils, and the two of them didn't delay, placing their hands around my horn that didn't feel like its usual shape.

It felt more linear or like a zig-zag almost, but I brushed the thought away and shivered at their touch.

Ignoring how uncomfortable I was, I spread my wings out and let my body absorb the negativity within their hearts.

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