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// In the Darkness 
// Story: A Rarity Such as I 
// by Touch the Sky 
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In the morning, Rarity was prodded awake by armoured hooves. She got to her hooves, shuddering at the black soot which had settled on her coat and resolving to wash off in the first lake they passed. Her friends and sister now stood uneasily around, until the soldiers ordered them to walk into the trees.

The soldiers led the six other ponies deep into the Everfree, not even flinching as timberwolves howled somewhere nearby. Fluttershy, however, huddled on the ground in terror, and the soldiers could not shift her.

Eventually Blackthorn snapped impatiently, "Catch up with us when she gets up. The rest of us will go on. She isn't necessary anyway." Leaving four soldiers to prod the shivering yellow pegasus, they trotted onwards into the trees. Rarity noticed that some of the pegasi soldiers looked even more badly battered than the previous evening, spotted a blue feather in one of their tails, and guessed that Rainbow was still on the loose.

This theory was proved right when a streak of rainbow colours sent one of the soldiers spinning. Applejack seized her chance and with a defiant cry made a run for it, tearing back up the path after the blue pegasus. Applejack looked back and jerked her head imperatively, indicating that her friends should follow, but the soldiers had encircled them again, and Twilight shook her head. Applejack reluctantly kept running.
"Get them!" roared Blackthorn, and a group of soldiers skittered after the fleeing mares with panicked expressions.

Blackthorn very calmly continued walking, but there was now a depleted number of soldiers guarding the prisoners. Rarity could see the cogs turning in Twilight's brain as she tried to formulate an escape plan. Pinkie just bounced along, seemingly oblivious to their situation, while Sweetie Belle stayed near Rarity, a look of confusion flickering on her face.

By midday, Rarity had had to carry Sweetie Belle on her back, as the little white filly's hooves were stinging from all the walking. This doubled the effort it took for Rarity to walk on her own aching hooves, but she kept going. Pinkie just kept bouncing, while Twilight was looking frustrated.

An hour later, they were set upon by timberwolves. But the soldiers dealt with them easily, sending the wooden terrors fleeing with their tails between their legs- after they had reformed, that is. This also caused Rarity to wonder why these efficient fighters had had such trouble subduing Rainbow Dash.

But as evening was beginning to touch the sky, Blackthorn stopped. Pinkie gave one last bounce- and collapsed, asleep before she hit the ground. Rarity lifted a sleeping Sweetie Belle off her back and fought the urge to collapse alongside her sister. Instead, she gazed at the castle.

High above her loomed a castle, up in the treetops. was like a treehouse, but much bigger, made of sticks and leaves. A set of spiral stairs within a tower coiled down from it. 
Blackthorn trotted over to the stairs, where he was met by what was presumably a pony with a spear, although Rarity could only see the spear.

"State your rank, name and purpose!" came an intimidating order.
"Tis I, General Blackthorn, returned with that pony which She wished to see."
"What?" the voice lost all of its military tone. "General, you've really found her?"
"Go and lick her if you doubt me." came the irate reply.

At that moment Rarity felt some fur yanked from her front leg. When she looked sideways, she saw Pinkie, looking thoughtful. Then Pinkie's eyes widened. "Hey, Rarity, why does your coat taste like marshmallows?"
Rarity looked at Twilight for help, but then felt another clump of fur pulled out, this time from her other front leg.
"Pinkie's right, it does!" squeaked Sweetie Belle in surprise.

Pinkie pulled out another clump. "It's great!" Feeling another bunch yanked out by Sweetie Belle, Rarity screamed, "TWILIGHT!"
Twilight pushed Pinkie's reaching hoof away from Rarity. "Pinkie, stop it!"
Rarity looked down at the two patches of bald skin on her forelegs and swayed. Twilight supported her, as Pinkie protested, "But Twilight, it tastes so nice..." 
"Pinkie, you're pulling her fur out! You didn't like it when the soldiers did it to you!"
Sweetie Belle nodded. "It hurt. Sorry, Rarity."

Rarity gave her sister a weak smile. "Quite all right, Sweetie Belle, as long as you don't do it again."
It was then that they noticed all the soldiers staring at them.

General Blackthorn coughed. "Now, Rarity, if you'd follow me-"
"She's not going anywhere without us!" snapped Twilight.
The general looked about to argue, when a tired female voice echoed from above. "Let them all come up, it doesn't matter to me."
"General Blackthorn nodded, forcing his protests back down his throat, before bidding the four friends follow him up to the tree-castle.

Rarity went around and around on the spiral staircases, and just as she thought they might never end, she emerged into a large, open throne room. The walls were lined with more soldiers, but at the back of the room sat a small, old, white alicorn. Rarity stared in confusion, and Twilight and Sweetie gasped. Only Pinkie seemed unperturbed.

Blackthorn approached the throne and bowed. "My Lady."
The white alicorn nodded to him and her green curls bobbed. "You have done well, my faithful general. Rest now."
Blackthorn bowed again and withdrew to stand with his soldiers at the edge of the room.

The white alicorn's emerald green eyes turned to Rarity, and Rarity dropped into a respectful bow.
"There is no need for that, Rarity." said the alicorn. Rarity stood uncertainly, as the alicorn got off her throne and walked towards her. 

This alicorn's mane did not have an ethereal flow like Celestia's or Luna's; it was emerald green and curly, and she was the same size as a normal mare, with the short rounded horn typical of common unicorns and the wings of a typical pegasus. However her regal gait commanded the respect of the room. On her flank were three emeralds.

Rarity blinked. "Who are you?" 
In return she received a smile, sadness hidden behind the green eyes. "We are the Princess of the Forest, Emerald Shine, and we have reigned here for over 900 years."
Rarity frowned. "Then how have I not heard of you?"

"We are well hidden." came the evasive reply. "Only Celestia, Luna and we know of this kingdom's existence."
"Kingdom?" This was Twilight. "What kingdom?"
"The trees of yonder forest." replied Emerald Shine. "We rule over the forest thine people call the Everfree, and it is by my magic that the clouds move, plants grow, and animals care for themselves. They art free from dependence on ponies, and so they art everfree."

"Alright," said Rarity. "But why do you need me?"
"Thou art the marshmallow pony of this millenium, art thou not?" asked the alicorn.
"Yes..." said Rarity cautiously.
"Then you are needed for a very special purpose. Death is creeping up on me, and to ensure my kingdom continues to prosper I require... your soul."