//------------------------------// // Arrival // Story: Wings // by SkyMunki //------------------------------// "Princess, we have a visitor." A white Pegasus in golden armour announced from the end of the throne room. "Oh?" Princess Celestia said, looking to her sister as if asking if she had any guests planned. "She told us... 'my name is Zecora, from the forest Everfree, I need to see the princess, it's an emergency!' ...Should I let her in?" The Royal Canterlot Guard queried. Concern crept over the Princesses' faces and Celestia gave a nod. The doors creaked open and a bedraggled Zecora trotted in quickly, pausing to bow swiftly before continuing toward them. "This is important, impending doom I need to hear from nightmare moon! When you were banished, were you lonely Or did you perhaps meet... another pony?" Luna look rather baffled by Zecora's rhyming question. "Ahem... That was a long time ago and... I'm not sure what you're suggesting." "Coat of shadow, ghostly mane that flows as she flies And of course, who can forget those powerful Crystal eyes?' Zecora hinted. "Oh..." Luna looked away, feeling her sister's heavy eyes on her. "I don't know why this has come up but... When I was, err, banished, I met another pony... We made a deal to escape together and when my time came... I just went, I didn't think about our promise." Princess Celestia frowned, turning to the zebra. "What brings you here?" "The shadowpony has had her will, And is heading straight for Ponyville!" Zecora cried. "What!?" Luna gasped, jumping to her hooves. "Guards!" Celestia called, "We're heading to Ponyville!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight was pacing, Applejack was slumped against the rocky face of the cave and Rarity was stroking her mane, complaining that the damp would give her curls. "Hate to be the one ta tell ya, but your hair is curly." Applejack grumbled. Pinkie piped up, "actually, it's not as curly as mine. Not nearly as curly as mine! Mine is like POOFPOOFPOOF!" "Pinkie, please..." Fluttershy sighed. "POOFPOOFPOOF!" "Pin-" "POOOOOOOF!" "Pinkie Pie! Be quiet!" Fluttershy yelled. Surprised at the usually quiet pony's snappy order, Pinkie settled down. That was a relief for everypony. Twilight began to speak aloud. "You know what, guys, I think this wasn't an accident." "What do you mean, dear?" Rarity wondered. "Gathering us all into this cave together... Then trapping us all in here." Applejack shook her head. "But who would do that, Twi?" Twilight sat down and frowned with concentration as she idly picked at the fallen rocks. She then turned and looked at each of her friend's faces, barely visible in the dark. Each of her friends except... Finally, she realised. "Somepony doesn't want us to get to Rainbow Dash." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "No Twilight, no Fluttershy, no Applejack, Rarity or Pinkie Pie! Where is everyone?" Sighed Rainbow Dash, rubbing a hoof across her forehead, sweaty from running all over town. Angel looked around, looking for any sign of Fluttershy or her friends, starting to feel worried. As much as he acted stroppy when she fed, talked with and cuddled him, he loved her more than anypony could. A heavy cloud was moving slowly toward Ponyville and Dash knew right away what was coming - she only wished she could fly up and sort her out. Upon seeing this menacing cloud, mares began to call their foals inside and stallions closed up their stalls to head inside. Dash stood up to find shelter too. What are you doing? Angel asked suspiciously. "No use sticking out here. What's a wingless Pegasus gonna help?" Rainbow muttered. Angel thumped his foot against her ribs. "Ouch!" You can't give up like that! You're the only pony who knows what's going on. You've got to save Ponyville! Angel cried, waving his arms dramatically. Rainbow shook her head, and continued to trot away, turning her back on the problem. Angel wasn't going to go with her. He scrambled off and tumbled to the ground, then gathered himself and folded his arms stubbornly. "Come on Squirt, you'll get hurt." Dash said half-heatedly. The bunny stayed put. The cloud loomed closer. Rainbow Dash waved a hoof dismissively as she entered the cafe nearby. "Fine. I don't care, your choice." Thunder crackled from the black mass of mist which was now hanging directly above the village. Not particularly wanting to stop glaring at the door where Dash had left, his eyes drifted up so he could catch a glimpse of the sky. Suddenly the ground shook, sending a wave like an underground tsunami across the street, cracking the ground and making Angel jump far higher than a bunny should be able to. He spun around and shrunk back as he was confronted by a slim, black pegasus proudly positioned in the centre of the market. Her wings beat slowly and her long mane of cyan blew with the wind in sharp jerks. The shadowpony had arrived. Angel slunk back into the shadow of the cafe, but it was too late and he had been spotted. The strange pony sent him flying into the air with a thump of her hoof and she flew past, snatching him in her teeth. The bunny kicked and squirmed and struggled but it was useless. For the second time that day, he was about to die. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rainbow pushed the sandwich about her plate and looked lazily out of the grimy windows. She wasn't much hungry. Without warning, a ripple shook the whole cafe; ponies started to panic and talk and move around. Dash blinked, and all of a sudden a towering, dark form was stood in the centre of the clearing, and she closed her eyes, ready for whatever happened. And then it occurred to her; Angel was still out there. She leapt up and shot out of the cafe, her hooves slamming onto the ground with such purpose she was sure she sent out her own tremors. She didn't mean it when she said she didn't care; of course she did. In fact, she cared so much that Rainbow didn't think about the consequences; as soon as she saw the white bunny in the Shadowpony's mouth, she hurled herself with all her might directly at the beastly mare.