//------------------------------// // Chapter 75 // Story: The Darkness in our Souls // by Black Light //------------------------------// Chapter 75 I was sitting on the train looking out the window. I was the only pony still awake, we had to get up early to catch the morning train. I would've gone to sleep myself. However, the nightmares still come, and I don't know if one of them might turn into a full blown night terror. The girls still weren't fully aware of them, they knew about my nightmares, but not that some of them can escalade farther. I think Rainbow may have her suspicions, but she hasn't said anything to me about it. Instead of resting I stared out the window in a sort of trance. It was a little skill I learned to keep the body and mind rested without the need of sleep. It isn't quite as effective as sleeping, but it keeps me moving. 'This is so boring' I blinked my eyes a few times coming out of my trance. 'you need to learn to enjoy the little things.' I told the darkness. 'Enjoy the little things...you realize I enjoy pain and fear right?' He responded. I sighed, the darkness and I had grown slightly closer after the whole fusing thing. We would probably never say that to anypony though. Him because of his pride, and me because...well because they just wouldn't understand. Everypony who knows the darkness thinks he's evil, but I know better. He isn't really evil, he's done some bad things yes, but he isn't evil, he's just fear. 'you should really try to get a hobby.' I told him. 'A hobby? You want me to get a hobby? You realize that right now I'm just a voice inside you're head right? He said. 'Then take up speechwriting. I could always use some good material.' If the darkness had any eyes I could tell he would be rolling them. '...We've been through some rough times haven't we? The darkness asked, more of a statement really. 'Yeah, but at the very least we had each other to fall back on." I respond. He just let's out a small chuckle. 'Just remember the only reason I help you is because I'm used to you being my host, and I don't want to got through another transition.' The darkness tells me. 'And for Skies.' I say to him hoping for a good response. '...Yeah, and for Skies.' That surprises me, I was expecting some snappy comeback, not...not that. 'Just go back to meditating already. He tells me. I don't respond I just stare out the window. I spend a few minutes contemplating what the darkness said before I make my mind fade out again. The sound of a train whistle brings me back from my trance. The train only has two stops so I can take a guess where we are. Looking around I see the girls already up and about the train car. I stretch a little and get down from my seat going and standing next to Rainbow and Skies. "Bout time you came to. You've just been staring out that window since we left the station." Rainbow said. "What I like windows." I responded. Rainbow just rolls her eyes. "What time is it by the way?" I ask the girls. "It's just a little after noon." Twilight answers. "Alright then, as soon as we get off I'm going to my house. I'm making a tulip sandwich, and then I'm going to get into my bed and sleep the rest of the day away." I say. "Really that's your plan?" Twilight asks. "Hey it sounds like a great plan to me." Rainbow says backing me up. "Exactly, I haven't been back home in what feels like forever. It will feel great to be able to sleep in my own bed again." I tell Twilight. The train doors open and we all step out onto the platform and I take a deep breath in. The crystal empire was cold being as far north as it was, but the Ponyville air still has it's homey warmth. I turn and start towards the far side of town where my house is. "Well so long, farewell, au revoir, beannacht, arrivederci, vale, goodbye. Do not disturb me unless the town in under attack and you can't handle it, a personal summons from the princess, or a sale at 'Quills and Sofas' I'm a bit low on quills and I'm sure the sofa cushions need replacing." I say as I wave to the girls. They all just give a small laugh as we all take our separate directions. I got to my house and took a key from my saddlebags and unlocked the door. I let Skies go in first and followed behind closing the door behind me. I didn't waste anytime putting my plan into action. Skies and I went to the kitchen and each made ourselves a sandwich. When I finished mine I went up to my room tossed my saddle bags onto a chair and fell into my bed not even bothering with the sheets. I yawned and looked up at the ceiling as darkness began to creep into my vision and I drifted off to sleep. The nightmares came just like they usually do, but I didn't care. My bed was just to comfortable to be saddened by nightmares. I don't know how long I was sleeping for, but I do know that what woke me was a loud banging on the front door. I tried to cover my ears, but the banging could still be heard. Eventually I sighed and got out of bed. I walked to the from door and opened it. At the door were all the girls minus one Twilight. I sighed, "I told you three things to wake me for which one is it?" I asked them. "All of the above." Rainbow answered. That woke me up. "Explain." I said. "Well the summon from the princess and the sale are pretty self explanatory, so well just go straight to the town being under attack and we can't do anything about it." Rainbow told me. "Skies, emergency, code orange!" I called back into the house. "Magic, animal, pony, or unknown classification?!" She called back from her room. I turned to the girls. "What's the problem?" I asked them. They were slightly stunned and confused but they snapped out of it. "There's this horrendous mare named Trixie that came to town. She was here before and lost a magic duel to Twilight." Rarity started. "She challenged Twilight again, but this time she had some weird amulet that made her more powerful. She beat Twilight and now Twilight can't come back into Ponyville." Rainbow continued. I turned back into the house. "Pony, Magic, and Unknown!" I called in. "Falls more under your category, you can deal with it, I'm going back to sleep!" Skies responded. "Don't sleep for too long!" I told her and I walked out and shut the door locking it. "Okay so would somepony please clarify why Twilight took this duel without my knowledge?" I asked them as I started to make my way towards the town. "Well she took your comment about not waking you very seriously and she thought that Trixie would be easy to beat, but she didn't expect the amulet." Rainbow told me. "Alright, I'll deal with it." I said as I took in the details. "I've learned a lot about magic artifacts, I'll be able to figure something out." I told them. "Where's Trixie now?" I asked. "Probably in the main square she's taking over control of Ponyville." Pinkie said hoping along, she didn't seem to down about all this. I turned down a street and made my way towards main street. Whoever this Trixie was, I was going to put a stop to her. Nopony messes with my home or my friends. I walked into the main square ponies were running around preforming random things. There was a large chariot outside town hall that lacked wheels, and new flags were flying all over town. My horn started to glow, I am an expert on magic and I had picked up a few tricks but this was by far my favorite I had learned. "TRIXIE! COME OUT HERE AND FACE ME! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A MAGIC DUEL, BUT FEEL FREE TO REFUSE IF YOU'RE SCARED YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE! I shouted at town hall my voice amplified by magic, thank you Luna. A mare came storming out of the building that I had never seen before, no doubt Trixie. Her eyes met mine, my challenge had been accepted.