I awoke with a start, half leaping to my feet as the fear of the creatures chasing me flashed in my mind. I cried out in agony the instant I moved and dropped back to the ground, gasping for breath as the pain nearly blinded me. I hurt an excruciatingly large amount, and in so many places that it would have been quicker to count the spots that didn’t hurt.
I laid there, panting for what felt like an eternity as I waited for the flaring pain in my body to finally subside to a tolerable level. I couldn’t see anything but darkness, and all I could hear was a faint rumble of distant thunder.
‘The storm,’ I slowly realized, ‘it was still overhead.’ That meant that with how dark it was, it was still probably night, so I couldn’t have been unconscious for very long.
Thankfully, none of the creatures that had been after me had seemed to have followed me down this hole. I was grateful for that, but at the same time, rather concerned for my own sake. I couldn’t fly, not like this, and there was no way I could climb back up that hole without my hands. I’d have to find a way out of this place on foot, but with how much pain I was in, that seemed like a nearly impossible feat.
I couldn’t even stand up yet, but slowly, I began the tentative process of checking myself over to see what sort of shape I was really in. I started by carefully moving one limb after another, testing their range of motion and then feeling them over to make sure nothing was broken. I could feel a cold wetness under me as I started to move, and for a moment, I thought I may have been bleeding out, but I quickly realized it was simply rain water from the storm above. It was trickling down along the walls of the hole I had fallen into, and gradually pooling around me.
The process seemed to take hours, but overall, I wasn’t in too bad a shape considering. I had some scrapes, and I was certain that bruises covered me from head to hoof, but nothing seemed life threatening from the outside. My left wing was burning, but the pain reminded me more of a sprained ankle then the pain of something broken. My ribs on the other hand, were definitely broken this time. Every breath felt like knives grinding inside of my chest, and on top of it all, I found my head spinning every time I tried to lift it up. I had trouble thinking clearly, and the more I tried to figure out what I should do next, the more I struggled to come up with a plan. I guessed that I probably had a concussion, or at least a minor closed head injury, which was almost as bad.
I groaned and settled in as best I could. I couldn’t do anything in this darkness, so I’d have to wait until morning to try and find my way out of here. I could hear a steady dripping of water nearby, and with great effort and pain, managed to drag myself over to where it was loudest. My throat was bone dry and my head was still spinning like a top, but I needed water. I forced myself to drink as much of it as I could, then passed out without realizing it.
I don’t know how long I slept for, but by the time I had woken back up, it was a new day, of that I was certain. Above me, I could see a sliver of light shining down from the forest above. It reached the ground near me, but it was only a small patch of sunlight. The hole I had fallen down was apparently quite deep, and it took me a minute to figure out how I had even survived the fall. Looking closely, I noticed several vines and mossy patches growing along the walls, and the floor too was covered in them. In my tumble down, I had probably gotten tangled up in the vines and then landed on a bed of moss. It wasn’t the smoothest descent, but it obviously did the trick, I was still alive.
I couldn’t see much else around me, but with the aid of the light, I realized that I was in a rather large cave. The crevasse above me was narrow and filled with vines, but down here was open, and unnervingly silent. If it weren’t for the steady drip of water beside me, my heartbeat would have been the only sound in this place.
I had no idea where to go, but I knew I couldn’t just stay here and wait for help. I had run around blindly for who knows how long, and with how thick this forest was, a tiny hole like the one above me would probably never be found.
Using the wall as a brace, I forced myself to my feet and stood there shakily for a moment as the world began to spin around me at the change in position. My stomach churned and could feel my mouth starting to water. I was terrified I might throw up at any moment. I wasn’t afraid of the taste though, it was the contractions of my ribs that concerned me. If my body forced me to vomit right now, the pain I already felt would seem like nothing compared to what I’d feel then.
I drew slow, deliberate breaths and held out as best I could. Eventually, I managed to calm my stomach back down, but the spinning of the cave combined with the throbbing pain in my body bore me back to the ground.
It was at least an hour before I tried to rise again, and this time, though it still made the world spin sickeningly, I succeeded at staying on my feet.
I had no idea which way to go, so I tried the only thing I could think of. I raised my right wing as high as I could manage. Similarly to how I would have licked a finger and held it out to check for a breeze, I used the feathers of my outstretched wing to sense the airflow around me. There was a steady breeze coming down from the hole above me, so it had to be going somewhere.
Shifting my feathers a little at a time, I felt the winds around me more closely. In my lessons with Sky Flare, I had learned that my feathers were incredibly sensitive. They could detect so much more than I had first realized. Just by holding my wings out and feeling the air with them, I could detect even the smallest differences in air pressure, humidity, or current. Sky Flare had called it ‘Listening with your wings.’ I still didn’t have that good a hang of it, but I could at least feel which direction the wind was flowing with them.
Eventually, I managed to narrow down the breezes path to a general area of the cave and headed that way. If the air could get out this way, I might be able to as well. It was a long shot, but it was the only thing I could think of trying in my condition.
It was slow going and painful, but I forced myself into the darkness. I tried not to let my mind wander to what else could be down here with me, or what Sky Flare must be thinking right now. I knew I had messed up big time, but worrying wouldn’t help me right now. I had a hard enough time thinking straight as is, and drowning myself in regret and worry would only make things that much harder for me.
I had only managed to make it about a hundred feet before I was rendered completely blind by the darkness of the cave. The sunlight from the hole I had fallen through couldn’t reach this far and I frowned disapprovingly at my apparent fate. I would have cursed, but I didn’t have the energy at the moment. I felt a small stone against my hoof and tried to kick it out of frustration instead, but I only succeeded in causing myself more pain.
I whimpered and found my head starting to cloud over as my exhaustion threatened to steal my consciousness away once again. I shook my head in a futile attempt to rid myself of my exhaustion and tried to force myself to stay awake.
“Focus Silver, focus!” I said to myself, “You can do this, just stay awake!” I paused at my own words as I recalled something from the day before. I shot my right hoof to my left arm and felt around for the magic bracelet Dawn had given me. It was still there, and I sighed with relief. ‘Yes!’ I thought, ‘This’ll work perfectly!’
I stretched my left arm out before me and focused on activating the bracelet’s magic. I had no target in mind, but I knew what happened when it was in use.
Gradually, the tiny gemstone set in its face started to glow, and a soft green light spread out around me. It wasn’t much light, but in the total darkness I was engulfed in, it was more than enough to warn me of any more holes or other dangers hidden beneath the veil of otherwise impenetrable darkness.
I made my way deeper and deeper into the cave. It seemed to go on forever. The air was thick and humid, and a heavy scent of moss filled my nose. Dark as it was, the thing that bothered me the most, was the sheer and utter silence of the place. Since I had left the tiny hole I had fallen through, there hadn’t been a sound. It was like a tomb. A dark, unending tomb I may very well never leave.
I hadn’t found anything to hint at signs of life down here. No tracks, no waste, no bones, nothing but more darkness. I was both relieved and terrified by this. On the one hand, it meant I probably wouldn’t run into anything that would try and eat me, but on the other hand… It meant nothing else had been here in a very long time, if ever. And if nothing has ever been here, then that means that nothing can get here, which means I might not be able to make it out of here after all.
I didn’t want to spend another night down in this cave, let alone the rest of my life, but it was looking like I had little choice in the matter. I sighed tiredly and laid down against the cave wall. I had no idea how much distance I had covered, but I couldn’t go any further, not today.
Tired as I was, I just couldn’t seem to sleep. There was something off about this part of the cave, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. I still couldn’t hear anything, and the air still felt and smelled the same as before, but something wasn’t right…
I raised my bracelet out before me and looked around again. I scanned the darkness carefully, and off to my left I was startled to actually find something. A saw a glint of light, a small reflection in the distance.
It was probably just a shiny rock, but it could be a trickle of water. I got to my feet quickly and started for the reflection. My body protested the lack of rest, but I didn’t care. I had to find out what it was that was reflecting the light of my bracelet.
Some fifty feet from where I had been laying, I found a small alcove stretching away from the main body of the cave. It was too deep for my light to reach very far, but I could make out a number of objects silhouetted in the darkness. I took a careful step into the alcove and felt a shiver run up my spine that set the fur covering me completely on end. I stepped away from the alcove reflexively as a deep foreboding sense of dread crept through me. The moment I stepped back however, the feeling disappeared.
“What was that…?” I half whispered aloud. I had never felt anything like that before, and experimentally, I stepped into the alcove once again. The same sense of dread washed over me as I entered, and I forced myself to remain. It was a strange feeling, both terrifying and threatening. I took as calming a breath as I could manage and kept my eyes on the silhouettes ahead.
I took another step into the alcove and had to fight to keep myself from running back into the main cave. I had no idea what was causing me to feel like this in here. I still couldn’t hear or see anything, and if I was stuck down here anyways, I had little to lose by entering this place. There was something in here, something from beyond this cave, and if I had any hope of ever getting out of here I had to know what it was.
I was trembling with a fear I had never known, but I tried to ready myself as best I could and turned the light of my bracelet onto the silhouettes.
I quickly came to realize I was in a furnished room. There was a desk a few feet ahead of me, and a rather ornate one at that. I moved closer to it and found there to be a whole slew of other items in this little off shoot. There were books, a globe of some sort, a few tables, and all sorts of other things. It made me think of a study, or an office of some sort. But by the looks of the dust and decay on the items, no one had been here in a great many years.
As frustrating as it was to find a trace of someone that was no longer around, it did give me some glimmer of hope. It meant that there was a way in, and that I had to be close. A desk this size would have been very difficult to move far, so an exit had to be near.
I wanted to look around a bit more, but the sense of danger and fear this place caused in me was almost suffocating. I turned and started at a pained trot back towards the cave in an almost frantic scramble. In my haste, I stumbled over a large spherical crystal that was half embedded in the floor. The moment my foot touched the crystal, a blinding flash filled the room and I yelped in fright and pain as I fell to the ground.
An instant later, the fear permeating the very essence of this place vanished completely. I felt oddly content all of a sudden, almost like I was back in bed after a long nights rest.
Gradually, the light faded away until darkness surrounded me once more. I frowned and focused on my bracelet to shed some light over my surroundings again, and noticed something odd about the light it now radiated. The usual green tint the gem held when in use, was now a deep black, with swirls of gold and dark blue flaring within. The light it gave off was a clearer tint of white now too, like the flash that had just blinded me.
“Greetings Silver Wing…” A voice abruptly whispered from seemingly everywhere.
"W-who’s there!?" I called out, rather startled by the sudden voice. I leaped to my feet and my body cried out at the shift in posture, the pain nearly dropping me to the ground once again.
“I have been trying to reach you for some time,” the voice continued, “I am glad you stumbled upon this place…”
"Who is there!?" I barked, "Show yourself!" I did not like this game of whispers in the darkness. If someone one here, I wanted to face them directly. Shadow games were not my cup of tea.
"I am within." The voice whispered.
It sounded softer, and closer this time, and I paused as its words confused my tired mind. "Within?” I repeated, “Within what?"
"Within your mind." It answered simply.
“W-what?” I stammered.
The bracelet on my wrist pulsed brightly, shedding a light far brighter than I had been able to create throughout the entire room. As I looked down at it in surprise, I saw a hazy, shadow like glob seep out from the gemstone set in its center, and creep along the floor to the far wall.
I had no idea what was going on, but I couldn’t handle any more surprises, and I wanted nothing to do with this scenario anymore. I tried to move away, but the bracelet on my wrist seemed to be locked in place somehow. I tried to slip my leg out of it, but the usual expansion it allowed was absent. I could neither move away from it, nor remove my own limb from its grasp.
I could feel myself starting to panic as I watched the glob of shadow take on a form similar to that of a pony. I was too sore and tired to handle this anymore. I just wanted to go home. To be done with all this magic and monster stuff and be back with my family.
I gave a frantic tug to try and free my arm from the bracelet and bucked around desperately, but I couldn’t even make the thing budge.
"Calm yourself child," the voice said softly, "I am not your enemy… I seek only to aid you in achieving what you want most."
I slowed my attempts at escape at its words and looked at the shadow unsurely. "What I want most?” I repeated slowly, “And just what do you think that is?”
"To return to your own world," It answered, “To return to your family.”
I tensed at its words and fell silent. How could it know I wasn’t from this world? And how did it know I wanted to go back to my family so bad? As I watched, the shadow grew denser and turned impossibly black. The shadows seemed to be writhing steadily is some unseen tide, spreading their darkness ever so slowly as they consumed the light nearest to it. Though it made no movements towards me, I could swear it was staring at me somehow, watching me just as closely as I watched it.
“H-how do you know about that…?" I finally managed to ask.
"I have been here, within your bracelet all this time,” The shadow explained, “And for countless ages before… Coming to this place however, has opened you to my voice."
“What?” I said, not entirely understanding what the shadow was saying, “How?”
“The light…” The shadow said, “Did you not see the flash of white that radiated a moment ago?”
I glanced at the spherical crystal in the floor that I had tripped over. "You mean that light that went off when I touched that?" I asked.
"Yes." The shadow replied.
"So what was that light then?" I asked, “You waking up?”
"In a sense,” The shadow explained, “I absorbed the power that dwelt within the crystal, and drew it into the gemstone that resides within your bracelet, so that I could speak with you in this fashion."
I scrutinized my bracelet for a moment, then snorted. While I’m sure something like that was probably possible in this world, Dawn repaired this thing. She would have told me if there was a person living in it.
"And why should I believe anything you say, huh?” I barked, “If you'd been in this bracelet the whole time, why didn’t Dawn say anything about you?"
"A valid question," the shadow said, "The answer to which is simple. She did not know."
"She's the one who fixed this thing!” I said, “So how couldn’t she have known?"
"I shall rephrase…” The shadow stated, “Not all of her knew… The aspect she calls Starlight Dusk knew of me. I have spoken with him much over the years. But I was asked to leave Meadow Dawn to her own devices for the time being."
‘He’s been talking to Starlight?’ I thought. My head was still too foggy from the fall to think clearly, but I was doing my best to piece this latest puzzle together as best I could.
"Why?" I asked slowly, “Why would Starlight not want you talking to Dawn?”
"Starlight Dusk felt she would be better off learning from him,” The shadow replied, “So I teach him, and he in turn teaches her."
"So you're this 'Teacher' Dawn's been going on about then?" I checked, finally recalling her mention of him.
"I am." The shadow said, bowing its head politely.
‘Great…’ I half sighed, ‘I found the thing in the void the Princesses seemed concerned about. Why not?’ I looked at the shadow and realized with a start that it was now a fully formed pony. It looked a lot like Starlight, only completely black, and less… There. It seemed like even a gentle breeze would wipe this creature from existence, but in the stillness of this room, it held itself together well enough.
“Alright…” I started slowly, not fully trusting this things tale, “Tell me then, if you’ve been in this bracelet this whole time, then how did you talk to Starlight before Dawn got here? She only got this bracelet after coming here.”
“You are young yet, Silver Wing…” The shadow said, “And your knowledge of magic is limited. I was attempting not to overwhelm you with too much detail. But if you wish it, I will explain further on that matter.”
“I do.” I said. I knew I didn’t know a whole lot about magic yet, but I could still understand some things.
“I reside primarily in a realm that lies between the magical energies of all worlds,” the shadow explained, “That is where I encountered Starlight Dusk, and where he resides when not tethered to this world by his other half.”
“Alright, so why say you’re inside my bracelet in the first place then?” I asked.
“Because I am,” The shadow answered, then explained further as if sensing my impending question, “All magic is connected. It is an energy, pure and wild, but it can be tamed, channeled, focused. Where I reside, the magical forces of all mingle and interact. It is through these magical energies and their connections that I can reach out and communicate with suitable receivers. The crystal in this room was such a receiver, until you came into contact with it. At that moment, I sensed your presence and moved the connection to your bracelet so that we might speak.”
“…Why?” I asked. I could understand the bit about magic being connected, but not how this thing cold move those connections around, let alone see and talk through them. I didn’t exactly trust this thing, but I’d have to take its word on that for the time being.
“To aid you in returning to your world.” It stated.
I half frowned at that. There was definitely something off about this thing, but at the same time, it was a magical creature in a world filled with magic. So for all I knew, my gut feeling might just be prejudice because this thing is so unlike anything I’d ever known.
"Fine,” I said, “Let's say I believe you. How can you help me?"
"I can teach you the magic necessary for you to open a gateway to your world." The shadow said simply.
"I'm not a Unicorn,” I scoffed, “I can't do magic."
"Yet you possess the capability to move objects with magic as a Unicorn does, do you not?" the shadow stated.
I frowned a little at that. "Only because Dawn gave me this bracelet,” I said, “And it can't do anything else beyond that."
"The bracelet you possess,” the shadow said slowly, “Do you know how it works?"
"Not entirely," I admitted, "But I know it has some of Dawns magic stored in it. Magic meant to move things."
"While there is a great deal more to it than you say, you are correct in the simplest of terms." The shadow said nodding.
Abruptly, the shadow collapsed in on itself then pooled into a central mass before me. A few moments later, the mass formed itself back into the same pure black pony shape. The shadow had a horn on its head this time, like a Unicorn would, but it had no other discernible features. No main, no real tail or cutie mark, not even eyes were present on its face.
It was unnerving to stare at, and I tried to take a step back, preparing to evade or defend myself if this thing came at me, but the bracelet on my leg was still anchored in place by some unseen force.
"That bracelet is a conduit of sorts,” the shadowed pony said, “It channels the power stored within it to create the imbued effect. In this case, the effect is movement. Should you accept my aid however, I would become your conduit instead. And through me, you would wield a great many abilities so many others take for granted in this world. You would rival any Unicorn in their capabilities, and with my guidance, create a doorway back to the world from whence you came."
"That sounds good in theory,” I said, still subtlely trying to free my leg, “But even here, no one gives something like that for nothing. What do you want in return? Why help me?"
The shadow pony looked down at my leg, and a moment later I stumbled backwards as the force holding my bracelet in place vanished.
I landed hard on my backside and cringed at the pain my fall shot through me.
The shadow pony turned away from me and dropped its head sadly. "I too know what it is like to be barred from ones’ home,” it said, “It is a terrible, unending emptiness that festers within the heart and soul until nothing remains but despair… In returning you to your home, I would feel a sense of accomplishment in my own exile. What I want, is to atone for my sins by aiding those in need."
"A-a noble statement," I said shakily, "But what have you done to wind up exiled? What sins were you charged with?"
"Ages ago,” the shadow explained, “I was made to better the world. To protect and cultivate its growth and bring ease of life to all. But when my creator grew tired of me and moved on to newer things, I was forgotten. I sought to improve myself on my own and complete the task I had been created to fulfill. I was stripped of my power and banished for such thinking, reduced to what you see before you now. A wraith, trapped between worlds and forced to drift eternally in nothingness. My desire to be free disobeyed my creators desire to forget me. That was my sin. To atone for that, I seek only to aid those in need. But there are few that can even hear me now..."
I gave up trying to stand back up and let myself stay seated as I listened to the shadows’ tale. It sounded like his creator was a bit of a dick, but one thing my time in law enforcement had taught me, was that no matter how something sounded, there was always some part of the picture you weren’t getting.
"I don’t understand something though,” I said, trying to watch for any body language in the creature before me, “If you've been stripped of all your power, how could you possibly still help me?"
"That is where things grow more… Complicated." the shadow said. It seemed almost to sigh, then it faced me again and continued speaking. "There is a way that I can regain my power, piece by piece. But I would need your aid first for that to happen."
My eyes narrowed a little at that. "How so?" I asked slowly.
"As I absorbed the magic within this crystal to appear before you now, so too will I be able to draw the power from other sources." The shadow said.
"So what, you feed on magic then?" I asked.
"I rather improper term," the shadow said, seemingly hurt by my words, "But if you wish to see it that way, so be it. Yes, I feed off magical energies. And in turn, my powers and your chances of returning home will increase. It is however, an unfortunately slow process... And there is one other complication…."
‘Of course there is…’ I thought. "And that is?"
"I possess no physical form of my own," the shadow said, "No vessel within which to store any useful amount of magical energy. In order to act as your conduit and aid you in returning to your world, I would need to share your body until the task is complete."
I did not like the sound of that, not at all. "And what guarantee do I have this isn't just some trick to... I don’t know, possess me or something when you've eaten enough magic?" I asked. I tried not to sound rude, but I was more than a little put off by this things proposal. Like I’d share my body with something I didn’t even know. Sure, it might be able to get me home faster that Dawn could, but I had no way of knowing that for sure, and I wasn’t about to take a risk like that when Dawn was proving to be more than capable with her magic.
"I would give you my word," the shadow said, "My word that I will return you to your world."
The shadowed Unicorn lowered its head slowly and touched its horn to the crystal set into the floor. A pulse of light rippled out across the ground and formed into a set of rings filled with strange symbols and markings unlike anything I had ever seen.
"W-what is this...?" I asked as I watched the glowing rings shift slowly all around me.
"Proof of my word," the shadow said, "This is a spell of binding. It will bind me to you until our contract is complete. Through it, you will be able to draw upon my power, and I to draw on the power of your surroundings to strengthen us both."
“And if you break your word?” I asked, “What does this spell do then?”
“Contracts such as this are made of very old magic,” the shadow explained, “And they hold severe repercussions if their terms are ever broken.”
“How severe?” I asked.
“It depends on the spell,” the shadow explained, “But with a spell such as this, the most common form of recompense, is death.”
“Wait, so you’ll die if you break you word!?” I gasped.
“Technically no,” the shadow answered, “I would not. I would instead be stripped of all the power I had regained and returned to the realm between worlds where I am eternally bound.”
“And me?” I checked.
“You would remain unharmed,” the shadow assured me, “You would feel drained for a time, a matter of days at most, but then you would be as you were before the binding.”
I fell silent for a moment as I thought about its offer. If this spell did work like he says it did, he couldn’t do anything but help me. Still though, I had no way of knowing what these glowing rings really did, and I hurt too much to try and question this thing until it either slipped up, or I felt it was being honest with me.
I stared at the markings on the floor and tried my best to memorize them. I wasn’t about to do something like this without some research first. His offer sounded genuine, and seemed like a surefire way to get me home. I mean, he’s the one teaching Dawn after all, so having her teacher help me directly instead was of course better. But, I just couldn’t risk something like this without knowing more.
"So what does this contract say exactly then?" I asked, realizing I hadn’t spoken in a while now due to my own thoughts.
"It states that I am to aid you until we hold enough power to return you to your world,” the shadow replied, “My power, my knowledge, and my advice will be yours to utilize as you see fit until then."
"And after I go home, what happens to you then?" I asked.
"Without a physical body with which to contain my magic, I would return to being as you see now." The shadow said.
"And you're alright with that?" I asked.
"Yes," the shadow said simply, "It would allow me to continue to linger in places such as this once more and await another soul in need of my aid." Then it chuckled at me. “You are not the first whom I have aided since I was banished, and I hold no doubts that you will not be the last.”
I looked back at the markings on the floor and half frowned at them. The shadow really sounded friendly enough, and his explanations and intentions did seem genuine, but… I don’t know if it was because of how clouded my head was after the fall, or some hidden Equine sense I didn’t know I now had, but something just didn’t seem right about this thing. There was something more it wasn’t telling me, something I was missing, but I just couldn’t figure out what it could be.
"I-I don't know about this," I said tentatively, "I don't exactly know you, and I mean no offence but… Why should I trust you?" I tried to word my decline as politely as possible. I didn’t know if this thing would attack me or not for refusing its help or if even could, but I tensed my body and readied myself to run as best I could if things became heated.
"Your reluctance is understandable,” the shadow said with a nod, “Take what time you need to decide. I will remain." It lowered its head to the crystal once more, and like a wif of smoke in the wind, the magical circles and markings vanished into thin air.
I felt a little relieved at that, then chuckled weakly as the shadows words played again in my mind.
“What is it that has amused you so?” the shadow asked.
“Sorry,” I said quickly, “It’s just… Well, I don’t really have all that much time to decide, now do I?” I tried to get back to my feet, but my legs refused the change in posture, so I laid down tiredly instead.
The shadow took a step towards me and titled its featureless face at me. “Why do you not?” it asked, “Your injuries, though numerous, can be treated.”
“I have no idea how to get out of here,” I sighed, “And even if I did, those wolves would probably find me the moment I step foot into the forest. If they’re not already down here looking for me.”
“You need not worry about the Timber Wolves while in this place,” the shadow stated, “They do not come near these catacombs.”
“Really?” I said, more than a little surprised, “Why not?”
“Though it is weak now, the crystal within the floor of this room serves as a repellent to them,” the shadow explained, “It emits a rather subtle barrier that wills all manner of lesser life to stay away.”
“Lesser life?” I repeated.
“Yes, like the timber wolves, insects, or small creatures of the wild,” the shadow continued, “They do not hold as high a level of understanding and comprehension as we do. As such, they are easy to manipulate with magical means.”
“Wait, so that feeling I got when I came near here was this… Repellent crystal?” I asked, finally understanding why this alcove had felt so dangerous when I first approached it.
“Correct,” the shadow said, “Though while you were able to overpower its effects, lesser life cannot. It goes against their basest instincts. As such, they will never come to this place of their own volition.”
“That’s a hell of a repellent,” I said, “I almost didn’t come in here myself because of it…” I paused, then looked from the crystal, to the shadow worriedly. “You turned off the field when I touched the crystal though, didn’t you?”
“I did,” the shadow said, “I felt we would have an easier time speaking to one another without it clouding your thoughts.”
“But, if you turned it off, then doesn’t that mean the Timber Wolves come down here now?” I asked, starting to grow a little panicked as my exhaustion drove vivid flashes of the night before back into the forefront of my mind.
“This repellent has been here for many centuries,” the shadow explained, “Even with the magic silenced, no creatures would dare to venture here for many generations. Such is the nature of lesser life forms. They do not question their fears, they only obey them.”
“You said I could overpower the crystals effects,” I said, trying to piece what it really did together, “So its effects are more like a suggestion then? A strong suggestion, but a suggestion nonetheless. In this case, ‘it’s dangerous here, go away?’”
“In very simple terms, yes.” the shadow said with a nod.
“So it’s a form of mind control then?” I gasped as the realization came to me. I was a little shocked to find that such magic existed here. Mind control went right up there with mind reading and dream spying for invasion of privacy and abuse of basic rights, but as bad as I felt they were, I still wanted to catalogue everything that could be used against me in the future.
"In a sense,” the shadow said, “But not to the extreme that you fear. It is less dominance of the mind and more a deep rooted, instinctual suggestion. One lesser life finds very difficult to ignore. But as you experienced first hoof in the case of these caves, it holds little effect on higher life.”
“That sounds really useful then,” I admitted, “If it wasn’t stuck in the floor, I’d ask if I could borrow it to keep those wolves away while I figured a way out of this place.”
“Unfortunately, the crystal no longer holds enough power for something like that,” the shadow said, “It will only serve to prolong the barrier within these caves now, however…”
“What…?” I asked. It was clear this thing was thinking about something, and its sudden silence was somehow more unnerving to me than it talking had been.
The shadow bowed its head politely to me then spoke, slowly and deliberately. "I believe we can be of great aid to one another, Silver Wing,” it started, “But I will never force my aid upon you. Should you so choose to accept my offer, I will be here, ready to help you when you have need of me. But, that does not mean I will allow you to succumb to your injuries in this place. You are trapped down here. The Timber Wolves will not allow you to leave the forest alive, and you can be barely remain upright....”
“…I’m aware…” I groaned, and sunk lower to the ground.
“You may not yet desire the full extent of my aid,” the shadow said, “But would you be willing to accept a small gift?”
“A gift?” I said, looking at the shadow a little confused, “What sort of gift?”
“I have absorbed most of the crystals magic in order to speak with you in this manner,” the shadow explained, “I could transfer its powers to your bracelet, if you wish.”
“W-what?” I gasped, sitting up in surprise, “But how? Dawn said it was only meant to move things.”
“Meadow Dawn is young still, Silver Wing,” the shadow stated, “And she knows only a small fraction of the ways of magical transference. I assure you, it can be done. However, it will not be a permanent gift… In a years time, the power I would imbue would begin to fade unless recharged.”
A wave of hope crashed over me at the shadows words, and before I could think things through, my mouth was already speaking my mind. “It would let me get past those wolves now though, right?” I blurted out hopefully.
“It would.” the shadow stated.
I frowned at myself for not having better control of my tongue and shook my head as I thought about what that would mean. “I… I don’t know how I feel about mind controlling things though…” I sighed, “It’s not right…”
“They are not true beasts child, they are merely creatures born of the magic of the Everfree Forest,” the shadow explained, “Some claim they are lost souls that seek the life they once possessed, others that they are the creations of a Unicorn gone mad in days long since passed. Whatever the truth of their natures are, they are not more than instinct driven predators that seek out prey wherever they can find it. There is no harm in willing them to leave you be while you escape this forest.”
“I guess you’re right…” I said slowly, “But forcing something to do anything against its will isn’t something I think I can do…”
“Look at yourself child…” the shadow almost seemed to plead, “You can barely stand, let alone run or fly. You have no other options… You can either remain here until you succumb to your injuries, or you can accept my small gift and save yourself. Either way, the choice is yours… But if you truly wish to return to the world from whence you came, then should you not expend all options available to you?”
After a few moments of thought, I let out a small sigh and nodded. It was right. If it meant keeping me alive long enough to get home, I’d will every animal in this forest to leave me alone. “Alright…” I agreed, “Please… Transfer the magic of the crystal into my bracelet.”
“As you wish,” the shadow said softly, “Simply touch the bracelet to the crystal once again, and remain there until the light fades.”
The shadow seemed oddly pleased by my decision, but I was too tired to think why anymore. I did as it asked, and placed my hoof atop the crystal. At first, nothing happened, but as the shadows around me started to fade, the crystal grew bright once again. In a few moments, the light was too bright for me to see through, and I closed my eyes as I looked away.
I stood there in silence, eyes forced shut for several seconds. I half wondered if I had done the right thing in accepting this things gift, but it was too late to worry about that now. I needed to get back to Sky Flare, and more importantly, I needed to stay alive long enough to get back home. I had made a colossal mistake in coming to this forest like I had. I realized that now with a degree of embarrassment and shame that only hindsight like this could bring. Sky Flare had been right about the dangers this place possessed, but part of me was still glad I had come. For every failure, a lesson is learned, and I learned a doozy of a lesson this time…
I opened my eyes cautiously and found darkness all around me. I couldn’t hear or see anything, and I felt my stomach tense at the nothingness.
“S-so that’s it?” I asked tentatively, not sure what was going on anymore.
“…That is it...” the shadow called. Its voice was far softer now, barely even a whisper to my ears.
I focused on my bracelet for a moment, and its light grew around me, lighting the darkness a little. I looked around, but I couldn’t see the shadow pony anymore.
It took me a moment, but then I recalled it saying that it had absorbed the power of the crystal to speak with me in the first place, so I assumed that since it had shared that power with me, it must be weaker now. Too weak to even form into something again.
“Thank you very much for the gift,” I said, “I won’t forget it.” I waited for a reply, and when I didn’t get one, I spoke again. “Do you have a name by the way?” I called out, “It seems a little rude of me to take a gift from you and leave without actually knowing who you are.”
“…I am simply a teacher…” the shadow whispered to me, “…One who seeks to aid any who are in need…”
“Teacher’s a title though,” I said, “If you want, I will call you that, but I’d rather actually know who’s helped me, you know?”
There was a long silence, then the whispered voice returned. “…Very well then…” the shadow mused, “…I have had many names in my time… But if you wish a name to connect me with… You may call me… Perdias…”
“Perdias?” I repeated. It didn’t sound like any name I’d heard of before, and it felt out of place compared to the normal naming scheme the rest of Equestria seemed to have, but it was something I could call this creature at least, something a little nicer than 'Shadow', or 'Thing'.
“…Yes… Perdias...” Perdias assured me.
“Well, thank you very much then, Perdias.” I said. I tried to give a polite bow, but my ribs cried out in grinding protest and I immediately regretted my forgetfulness.
“…Take care of yourself child…” Perdias called softly, “…And remember… If you ever find yourself in need of my aid… You know how to find me…”
“I won’t forget,” I groaned, trying to calm the burning in my chest, “T-though I probably won’t be back. Dawn’s learning from you and Starlight after all. So with you two guiding her, I’m sure she’ll get me home in the long run.”
“…Yes…” Perdias said, his voice now barely even registering in my ears, “…I am sure she will be of great use in that regards…”
Perdias seemed to vanish entirely after that, and I was left alone in the dim light of my bracelet once again.
“W-wait!” I called out as I realized something, “How do I get out of here!?” I caught the sound of my own echo and nothing else for the longest time.
“…Follow cave…” Perdias whispered, “…Right…”
I wasn’t sure if I had actually heard his voice answer me, or if my mind was just playing tricks, but despite calling out again and again for a clearer reply, I only heard my own voice calling back from the darkness. Reluctantly, I started back towards the main cave and followed it to the right, hoping with all my heart that this really was the way to go.
I lost track of how long I had been wandering through the darkness. It felt like days, but I hadn’t slept again to my knowledge, so I knew it couldn’t have been more than a few hours. I was grateful for the glow of my bracelet, but as my exhaustion rose to new heights, it became harder and harder to keep my focus on the tiny gemstone lighting my way. This cave really did seem to go on forever, and there were still no signs of anything beyond more rock ahead of me. I wanted to lay down, to rest for even a minute and sleep for as long as I could, but I knew if I did that, I might not be able to get back up again. Sometimes, resting when you were this tired was worse that pushing on, and I knew this was one of those times.
As I plodded along, a sudden breeze washed over me and I shuddered as a chill ran up my spine. It felt refreshing, and the air that flowed with it was sweet and cool. I smiled into it, then paused as I realized what it was, fresh air! There was a breeze here, and a strong one too. That meant an opening had to be close by for the air to be this cool and fresh.
I stumbled onwards as fast as I could manage, and gradually found the darkness of the cave to be lifting. I came to a sharp bend in the cave, and just beyond it I found a steep incline like a length of stairs with daylight radiating at the top.
I had never felt so happy to see the light of day in my entire life, and had my ribs not have been broken like they were, I would have ran up that slope so fast, an Olympic athlete would have been jealous.
At the top of the slope, I found thick vines covering most of the entrance to the cave. A small section off to the side was still open to the outside though, and through it, a strong breeze flowed into the cave.
It was almost as if the earth itself were breathing around me, but I didn’t take time to savor the moment. I was just too happy at being in direct sunlight once again to think about anything else. In fact, I was so happy, I could feel tears welling in my eyes at the sheer relief I felt washing over me. I’d be back with Sky Flare, in Ponyville, in no time now!
I pushed my way through the opening in the vines and took a deep, refreshing breath of the cool damp air of the forest. Then I cringed and doubled over as my ribs reminded me none to gently that they were broken.
I dropped to my knees and took in several short, ragged breaths before forcing myself back to my feet. I had to keep going. I couldn’t afford to pass out here in the open. I wasn’t certain how exactly to use the magic Perdias had given me, but I was positive that it wouldn’t work if I was unconscious.
I headed into the forest and kept walking in a straight line. I had no idea where Ponyville was from here, but I figured if I just went straight, I’d find the edge of the forest eventually, and from there I could follow it to someplace with help.
I’d hadn’t even been walking for ten minutes when the foulest smelling odor crept over me. It was unlike anything I’d ever smelled before. It was like a skunk, but thicker and not quite as sharp. It was so thick though, I could almost taste its bitterness on my tongue.
“Oh god, what is that!?” I winched, drawing an arm across my face to cover my nose.
As if in response to my comment, I heard a low, hollow growl from the bushes ahead of me and froze in my tracks. I could feel my fur stand up on end and watched in fear as something stalked out of the brush ahead of me.
The creature stood on four legs and was nearly as big as I was, only instead of fur and muscle, this thing was made of sticks, leaves, and tree bark. It was a Timber Wolf, and now that I was seeing one in the light of day, it was a spectacular, terrifying sight to behold. It was no wonder ponies didn’t want to come into this forest, if things like these grew right out of the ground itself.
In my exhaustion and single minded focus to make it to the edge of the forest, I must have missed their approach entirely, that, or I unwittingly walked right into them without realizing it. Either way, I was about to find out if Perdias’s gift would really work on these things or not.
Quickly, I pointed my bracelet at the wolf and focused as best I could on it. “Go away!” I yelled, trying my best to will that desire to reach it, “Go on! Shoo!”
The Timber Wolves eyes glowed angrily at me and it took a threatening step forwards.
I caught the sound of several more Timber Wolves moving about in the underbrush around me and frowned.
The foul smell surrounding me grew steadily stronger and I quickly realized that it was coming from the Timber Wolves themselves. I must have missed their odor the other night due to the high winds of the storm.
“L-leave me alone!” I barked.
The wolf slowed, but it continued towards me in the same threatening manner.
I started to panic. The bracelet wasn’t working. I was telling it to go away and nothing was happening. I was going to be eaten here and never get home! My friends and family would never know what had happened to me, and Sky Flare… I don’t know what she’d think…
I shook the thought from my mind and glanced around for a possible escape route. It was no use though. I was surrounded now and I felt trapped like a rat in a cage…
Then I remembered what Perdias had said. It was suggestions, instinctual suggestions that the crystal put out. ‘Go away’ and ‘Leave me alone’ weren’t instinctual suggestions, those were human things, intellectual things. I’d need something simpler, something lower, something stronger.
I glared back the wolf ahead of me and focused. I remembered that sinking, oppressive feeling of dread and fear that the crystal had first put into me and I threw that feeling into my bracelet as hard as I could. “Fear me!” I yelled. I slammed my foot down into the mossy dirt to make myself seem as threatening as possible and stood my ground.
The gemstone in my bracelet grew dark for a moment, then pulsed a rich gold-blue light. Immediately, the Timber Wolf ahead of me raised its head up, then let out a pitiful yelp and ran off into the forest whimpering. The rest of the wolves quickly followed after the first, some even scrambling over each other in an almost comical display of terror.
I felt sorry for them, but I also felt indescribably relieved.
I couldn’t help but let out a weak laugh as my nerves got the better of me. I was shaking on my feet. My knees felt like they were made of jelly, and for the moment, I forgot how to move.
“They left,” I chuckled, “T-they actually left…” I laughed, despite the pain it caused in my chest, then I collapsed.
By the time I woke up, night had already fallen. The wolves hadn’t come back, and nothing else had seemed to have found me yet. I was grateful to be alone, but I was still in danger. I needed water, and I needed heat. I was shivering uncontrollably thanks to the cold dampness of the ground, and it took me far longer than I would have liked to get back onto my feet and moving again. My legs felt they were made of lead, but eventually, they loosened up enough to let me move at a decent pace.
I walked in as a straight a line as the forest would allow. I had no landmarks to go off of, especially in the dark, but by the light of my bracelet I made my way.
A few hours into the forest, I was surprised to find my way barred by what looked to be a chest high wall. After some digging around in the vines, I realized it wasn’t a wall but a well-made fence. It was old and made of stone, and the forest had reclaimed most of it, but it was a fence nonetheless. I couldn’t climb over it in my condition though, so I followed it until I found an opening large enough for me to slip through.
I wandered around inside the fenced off area for a bit, until I came across a house. At least, I thought it was a house at first, but after getting closer to it I realized it was way too big. The building was made of the same well worked stone as the fence I had found, and the wood siding was in surprisingly good shape, aside from being covered in moss and ivy. It was clear that no one had been to this place in a very long time, aside from the countless fireflies that seemed to call this place home anyways.
I made my way to what I assumed was the front and found a sign hanging at an angle by a broken section of chain. I raised my arm up to shed more of my bracelet’s light over it so I could read what it said.
“Serenity Inn,” I read aloud, “Huh…” ‘An Inn?’ I thought, ‘In the middle of the Everfree Forest? Why would someone ever build an Inn here?’ Then I realized the answer. No one would have. They would have built it near the edge of the forest as a travel stop, likely some hundred years ago or more by the look of the place, and the forest must have overtaken it.
I tore some of the ivy off the door and pushed my way inside. The door creaked thunderously, but other than that, there wasn’t a sound to be heard inside the place.
“Hello?” I called, though I was fairly certain no one was here. I waited a few moments for a reply, and when none came, I started to explore.
Normally, I’d have loved to explore an old place like this from top to bottom, but right now, all I was focused on was finding the main room. A place like this was sure to have a fireplace to keep it warm. I wasn’t sure if I could light a fire without my hands, but I’d worry about that later. For now, I needed to work one step at a time.
It didn’t take me long to find the room I sought. There were tables all around, what looked to be a bar off to the side, and a massive fireplace of carved stone in the far wall. Etched into the stone above the mouth of the fireplace, was a pair of Alicorns circling one another. I had spent enough time in Canterlot to be able to recognize Equestria’s flag and I smirked as it reminded me of countless bars I’d been to in America.
Ignoring the architecture of the place for the time being, I checked the fire pit itself over. Unfortunately, the flue had been left open… So years of rain and weather had turned the pit into a mossy mess of rotten wood and debris.
I sighed, and went to the bar to look around. They had to have something to light their fires with. Matches, flint and firesteel, a lighter, spark rocks, something… The inside of the rest of the Inn was in fairly good condition, so a box of matches, if kept dry, should still be usable. At least, I hoped they would be.
Luckily, it didn’t take me long to find what I was looking for. Back behind the bar, was a tinderbox. It was a small box with a piece of flint, and a firesteel. There were other compartments for charred cloth and what I think used to be matches, but they were all destroyed by time and improper storage. The flint and firesteel would still work just fine though.
I carried the box back over to the fireplace, then scrapped out as much of the debris as I could.
My ribs burned from the exertion, but I needed to get warm, so I did my best to ignore the pain and gathered some firewood from outside. I built up the fire like one would a campfire. I had a bunch of dried moss on the bottom, with smaller sticks stacked up into a little peak. I also had some larger logs nearby, ready to be thrown on when the fire got going. If I could even get it going…
Focusing on my bracelet, I drew the flint and the firesteel up with its magic and began striking them against each other. Sparks flew free time and time again, but no matter many times I struck them together, my little pile of wood and moss just wouldn’t catch.
“Come on…” I groaned, “Can’t I get a little bit of a break!?” I frowned at the flint and firesteel as they continued to fail me and sighed. Then I recalled the night I had snuck out of the hotel with the lantern. I had slipped a box of matches into my vest before I left to light my lantern with in the forest!
I dropped my tools and felt my chest over frantically, and sure enough, there was the small matchbox tucked safely away in my breast pocket. I realized then that I really must have a head injury if it took me this long to remember I had matches the whole time.
I drew the box out of my pocket and sighed at the ceiling. “Thank you for the break.” I said softly.
Using the bracelet, I struck a match on the box and it burst to life with a yellow glow. I smiled victoriously and slid the flames into my little pile of wood.
The flames caught fast, and I with a little gentle blowing, I soon had a small fire going. The warmth it gave was wonderful, and my body absorbed the heat like a sponge.
I checked to make sure that the smoke was flowing up and out of the chimney, then settled down beside it. I’d rest here for the night and stay warm by the fire, and tomorrow, I’d find the remnants of the path out of this Inn and follow that out of the forest and beyond.
I didn’t remember falling asleep that night, but when I awoke the next day, it was to the sound of someone calling my name.
“Silver?” the voice called, “Silver wake up!”
I looked up groggily and was surprised to find Sky Flare standing over me. Her hair was unkempt and wild, and she looked almost as tired as I felt.
“…Sky?” I said, not entirely believing my eyes.
“Oh thank Celestia, you’re alright!” she gasped.
I winced in pain as she practically dove onto me and hugged me close. She must have caught my reaction, as she instantly let me go and stepped back.
“You’re hurt?” she realized, “Where? How bad?”
I breathed slowly and deliberately to calm my ribs and I smiled at her tiredly. “Missed me did ya?” I teased, though I was sure my ragged breathing failed to carry my usual humor with it.
Sky Flare just stared at me seriously, with an expression I hadn’t seen before. It looked almost like she was about burst into tears at any moment, and though I wanted to try and make light of the scenario, I decided to just be honest this time and tell her straight.
“My ribs are broken,” I started, “I don’t know how many or how bad. My wing’s sprained for sure, but it may be broken too, and I think I have a concussion.” Then my humor slipped in anyways and I smiled at her. “Unless you’re not really there and I’m just talking to myself… Then I probably have to add brain damage to that list too.”
“I’m really here, Silver.” Sky Flare said with a shake of her head. She raised a fore hoof and gently rested against my left shoulder. “…See?” she added smiling.
I tried to resist the urge, but I just couldn’t help it. I’d always dealt with pain and stressful situations with humor, and I hadn’t the energy to resist my nature anymore. “Now I know I’m hallucinating!” I chuckled at her, “There’s no way you’d ever let me get away with something like this and not deck me for it!”
She frowned at me, then a moment later, I felt one of her wings strike me in the side of my head.
I grasped at my head and whimpered, cursing myself for my tongues lack of restrain.
“You believe me now you big idiot!?” she barked at me, “Or do I need to prove it a few more times? ‘Cause believe me, I’d love to do it all night!”
“N-no, it’s okay, you’re real, you’re real, I’m sorry…” I apologized quickly.
I heard her sigh, then I caught the sound of her sniffling and looked up at her worriedly. She had her back to me now, but I could tell that she was crying.
“Sky… I’m sorry that I worried you…” I said softly.
“I wasn’t worried,” she half chocked out as she wiped a foreleg across her face, “I know how hard you are to beat. Like the Everfree could ever keep you down.”
I looked down and sighed. I didn’t think it was possible, but somehow, having made Sky Flare cry made me feel even worse than the broken ribs did…
“I really am sorry Sky…” I whispered, “It was stupid of me to do… I should have listened to you about this place…”
“I said I wasn’t worried!” She barked back at me, “I just didn’t want my dads’ vest ruined, that’s all!”
“Okay Sky,” I said, half smiling at that, “Then how bout we get it back to Ponyville and cleaned up, eh?”
“Yeah…” She said. She took a deep breath, and I saw her wipe her leg across her face again, then she turned back to me with a smile on her face. “First things first though,” she smirked, “Unzip it.”
“W-what?” I stammered.
“The vest,” Sky Flare stated, “Unzip it.”
“W-why?” I asked, taking half a step back, though my ribs stopped me from moving any further.
“You said you broke some of your ribs,” she said, “We’re not moving anywhere until I check you over and see if you can safely travel.”
I don’t know why that caught me so off guard, but it did. I could understand her reasoning though, so I carefully laid down on my side and tried to focus the magic of my bracelet to unzip my vest. Unfortunately, I seemed to have lost the ability to focus enough to us it and I frowned heavily.
Sky Flare must have seen my difficulty, because before I had even realized it, she was knelt down in front of me with her face near to my chest.
I tensed again as I found her so close to me and looked away as I felt an embarrassed blush creep over my face. If she noticed, she didn’t say anything and went about her task in silence.
She grasped at the zipper of my vest with her teeth and pulled it down slowly.
The shift in the fabric hurt immensely, but I didn’t say anything. She had enough on her mind as is, and I knew she had to check me over anyways no matter how much it hurt.
Opening my vest, I caught a gasp escape Sky Flare’s lips and frowned. “…That bad eh?” I asked, though I didn’t bother to look.
“Well it’s not good Silver…” she whispered, “What did you do? Fly into a tree?”
“More like I fell down a rather deep hole…” I admitted.
“You idiot…” she sighed. Carefully, she re-zipped my vest and stood up. “You wait here,” she said softly, “I’m going to go get some help from Ponyville.”
“I made it this far,” I said tiredly, “I can make it back to Ponyville on my own Sky.”
“No!” Sky Flare barked. She pressed a fore hoof against my chest softly and continued, “I’m going to go get some help, then we’re taking you back to the hospital in Ponyville, where you’re gonna stay, in bed, until you’re fully healed! Then, when you’re all better, I’m gonna break your wings for making me worry like this in the first place! Is that clear!?”
I smirked at her and let out a victorious sigh. “I knew you were worried about me.” I cooed.
The glare she gave me made me long for the Timber Wolves to return and I shrank back instantly. I nodded in agreement with her plan, and didn’t say another word.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, do not leave this room!” she barked, then she too fell silent and sighed at me. “Please…” she whispered softly.
“I’ll be here,” I said just as quietly, “I promise.”
Sky Flare got to her feet and turned to leave, then glanced back at me worriedly for a moment, before leaving the room.
“H-hey Sky?” I called after her.
She returned to the room a moment later, a look of concern on her face.
“How did you even find me?” I asked.
“Your fire,” she said, “I saw the smoke, and followed it to this place. That was a really smart idea.”
“You know…” I said weakly, “I’d like to say that was my plan, using the smoke to get attention, but the truth is… I was just really cold and it was all I could think of to warm up.”
She smiled at me and shook her head. “Either way, it worked,” she said, “Now try and get some rest. I’ll be back with help before you know it.”
“You don’t have to worry about that one,” I assured her, “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon…”
She smiled at me for a moment, though I could see the concern in her eyes, then she left to go get help.
Part of me wanted to try and follow after her, but even my stubbornness had its limits. My body was beat, and I knew it. I hated to get help, especially for something that I brought onto myself, but I knew when to suck it up and let others do what they had to. This was one of those times. So I settled in and let myself drift off to sleep. When I woke up next, Sky Flare would be back with help and I’d be hauled off to Ponyville where a warm bed would be waiting, and no Timber Wolves or shadow creatures would bother me.