My Little Pony: Lights and Shadows - Part I

by OmegaTale


Prologue

Throughout the night, the moon shined bright across the land of Equestria. The wind blew gently across the empty grasslands and past the colorful trees as ponies lie asleep in cozy homes, dreaming their pleasant dreams.

The light from the moon illuminated all lands below it….all apart from one.

Everfree lingered in defiance of the princess’ light; its trees acting as a dark veil, shielding the ground below in perpetual shadow. Through these trees and shadows the wind became ominous and bone-chilling, almost as if it were the breath of the forest itself.

A zebra running frantic and swift barreled over the roots and brush. She breathed heavily and her eyes showed that fear had an icy grip over her mind. Galloping with all her strength, she took a quick glance over her shoulder, seeing nothing but darkness. She faced forward once more, but the sound of something behind her echoed in her ears.

Sliding into a tailspin, she pulled out powder from her saddle. “From the brightness of light, you shall cower! Be gone fell beast, fear my power!” Zecora threw the powder to the ground and a burst of light lit up the area. A loud roar pierced through the explosion’s bang as something close by spread large wings and disappeared almost instantly from sight. Zecora wasted no time in continuing to flee, but she knew she couldn’t keep the creature away forever. She had to reach the Castle of the Two Sisters before it was too late.

Coming around a cluster of trees, she passed over the precarious bridge running for the castle door. Wing-beats sounded loud behind her, but suddenly stopped when she got close to the doorway. Not stopping, Zecora swung the door open, bolted inside and shut it behind her.

Finally able to catch her breath, she sat and listened for any more sounds, but all was silent. Her eyes then drifted from the door to the foyer of the castle, still in ruins despite Princess Twilight’s efforts to repair it. There was a reason why the creature dared not get too close at night, and Zecora knew the legends all too well. Knowing she could not leave with that thing nearby, she trotted slowly into the darkened castle.

Though the legends only refer to the warnings of night upon the ruins, Zecora chose to stay away from the castle at all times, even during the day. It takes a lot to make her shiver, being that she lives in the Everfree Forest, but just the thought of standing in these ruins after dark was enough to make her tremble. Twilight and her friends did not understand; this place was plagued by a curse, an old curse. A curse older than the castle itself. She had tried warning Twilight to stay away, but the logic-sensed alicorn never listened.

Trotting slowly across the withered floor, the wind howled through the holes and cracks overhead. The statue that once held the old Elements of Harmony stood as damaged as it had been for years, although dusted off a bit. Fortunately the young princess and her friends had not been back since the time-loop incident with Starlight Glimmer. Walking into the great hall, a sound like a whisper made Zecora stop and whirl around, looking down all the halls. It came again and she spun about, now becoming paranoid.

“Luna…?” came a quick voice from one of the halls, echoing into the chamber. Zecora’s eyes darted around, but the clouds overhead blotted out the moon, and all had become dark. “Celestia….?” Spoke the voice again, this time in less of a rush.
The frightened zebra backed up to the wall and followed it back towards the door, but when the clouds momentarily moved aside for some moonlight, Zecora was in a different chamber completely. Now horrified, Zecora had to bite her lip to keep from letting out a scared whimper.

“No….you’re not one of them….”

Frozen in fear, Zecora prayed to the princesses to deliver the sun.

“You are alone….? Nopony ever comes alone….”

In a moment of courage, Zecora gritted her teeth and stepped away from the wall. “Bring yourself into the light, lest you try to invoke my might!” she yelled.

Another gap of silence conquered the air as that bravery seemed to waver and fall away. It was upon speaking that Zecora realized she had made her mistake. Believing she heard a sound to her right, she went in full gallop to her left, only to grind to a halt.

A large figure she had mistaken for a statue turned around and reached for her, but she deftly dodged, attempting to flee again. Except this time the figure’s tail swept her legs and she crashed into the floor, being grabbed pinned down at the neck by a set of large claws.

“No more running for you little zebra.” The figure bellowed, its voice much different from the one before.

“Release me you-” before she could finish, the creature lifted her up off the floor by her neck, silencing her as she gripped at its claws. It pulled her close to its eyes, which glowed scarlet red.

“Speak without being addressed again and I will reconsider my plans to keep you alive.” It lowered her away from its eyes, but still kept her off the floor. The red eyes scanned the chamber, but returned to her. “Where is the Alicorn Amulet?”