The Darkening: Chapter 6 · 4:19pm Jan 2nd, 2019
Chapter 6 is ready to go and will be posted next Wednesday. Chapter 7 has really given me a lot of trouble, but I think I've finally just about worked it out, and I'm hoping the next portion of it will come along much quicker. Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful time over the holidays, and I also hope you'll look forward to chapter 6 after checking out the excerpt after the page break.
Applejack cracked the door open enough to fit her head through, and gasped as a flickering light and comforting heat caressed her face. Memories of countless campfires shared with family and friends flooded her mind, and she closed her eyes and smiled as yellow and orange kaleidoscopes adorned the insides of her eyelids. The heat warmed her face with a gentle glow that she hadn't felt in what seemed a lifetime.
Taking a deep breath to stifle her elevating emotions, Applejack opened her eyes and studied the source of the alluring light and heat.
It was a large, red crystal heart, nearly identical to the Crystal Heart that Applejack had seen several times while visiting the Crystal Empire. Floating in the center of the hall about a foot off the floor and rotating as if it sat on an invisible axis, the Phoenix Heart pulsated the heat and light not unlike a beating heart. Her thoughts straying to Philomena, she felt a sudden deep-rooted sorrow that the prerequisite for this wondrous treasure had been such a terrible sacrifice.
"Satisfied?" Rarity said from behind, jerking Applejack from her thoughts.
With a last longing look at the Phoenix Heart, Applejack stepped back and shut the door. "Yeah."
Rarity frowned at the expression on Applejack's face. For a long moment, her eyes shifted back and forth between her and the door, and then, slowly and deliberately, she spoke, "I will allow you to leave with the heart right now in exchange for your Princess Cadance." She watched Applejack closely. "You can slip it into your bag, and once you and Spike have been safely escorted out of the city, I will meet you at the base of the mountain."
Applejack's breath caught as her heart leaped into her throat. She could have the Phoenix Heart right now! All she had to do was give Rarity Cadance, and then she was free to cure Apple Bloom. It would be so easy!
"So, what's your decision?" Rarity asked.
Write on
And Happy New Year