//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: My Little Pony: Lights and Shadows - Part I // by OmegaTale //------------------------------// The Tree of Harmony sat peacefully in the cave, glowing as its branches stretched wide, the Elements of Harmony still embedded in their places. It rested as it had been since the opening of the chest and rising of Princess Twilight’s Castle, for nothing had changed since then. Through the dark of the night, something descended down the stairs to the chasm where the tree was rooted. Walking slowly across the ground, it came into the light. He was a black and gold colored, young adult dragon with a satchel slung onto his back. His scarlet eyes examined the Tree of Harmony as he approached, coming to a halt just a few yards away. No expression dominated his face, but there was a hint of mysticism in his eyes as he focused on the large star located on the tree’s trunk. There was a stillness and silence as his gaze lingered over the star. “You had to have known this was coming….” He said aloud, as if talking to someone. “This world deserves destruction, there is no saving it, not anymore.” He lifted the satchel off from his back and reached inside, taking out the Corestone, the center piece of Queen Chrysalis’ dark throne. A ripple of wind coursed through the cave when the stone was unveiled. The dragon looked upon the stone, and then back up at the tree. “Forgive me Etherus…” The dragon turned the stone around, revealing an etching of a closed eye, and lifted it in front of the Tree of Harmony’s star. A dark shockwave was emitted from the stone and the tree absorbed it. The cave began to quake and rumble, pieces of earth falling from above, but stopping in mid-air, floating above the tree and the dragon. The Corestone’s eye flinched and twitched, slowly beginning to open. As it did, the glowing light from the Tree of Harmony began to be seen being sucked into it, making the eye open wider. A high-pitched sound resonated in the cave that was excruciating, but the dragon only winced as he held the stone in place. The light drawn from the tree intensified as cracks formed over the giant star. Once the eye opened completely, all of the light from the tree expanded into a sphere that encompassed the entire cave. The star shattered and a beam of magic shot out from the opening in self-defense. The dragon was struck and pushed backwards as he clawed at the ground, still holding the Corestone. The continuous beam remained focused on the dragon, attempting to make him drop the stone, but he raised his claw into the beam and began walking forward. The magical beam expanded, growing stronger, and pushed him back even further. He growled and trembled, grinding to a halt as the claws on his feet dug into the stone. Again, he began walking, ever slowly, towards the opening in the tree. His eyes glowed brighter and his shadow reached out from the ground, emptying into his back. The dragon’s entire body became cloaked in a dark veil, warding off the light from the beam. Step by step, he approached the tree until he was finally close enough to reach out and rest his claw into the star-shaped hole. “I pledge-” he gasped, still being blasted by the beam. “I pledge my….my services to you!” In a final effort to stop him, the Tree of Harmony drew power from the Elements and the beam became rainbow colored. The shadowy veil surrounding the dragon quivered and shrunk, the dragon’s claws still digging into the cave floor. He gritted his fangs and shook his head. “Oh…no…you…don’t!” he roared, his eyes burning even brighter. The veil over his body disappeared, and then surged back stronger than before, pushing away the rainbow beam. “I pledge my services to you!” he repeated. “Heed my call! I shall free you from this seal! Now…” the dragon closed his eyes. “Darkness swallow the light! Begin the Hymn of Despair!” “Finally.” The cave turned pitch black and storm clouds formed over the Castle of the Two Sisters, revealing a dome of translucent magic over the ruins. The shadows from the cave entrance reached up into the sky as a massive claw and, with a single strike, shattered the dome of light. “Do not fail me.” The shadows were all sucked back into the cave and into the Tree of Harmony, blasting the dragon off his claws and through the air. The star remained shadowed, and the tree no longer glowed. The Elements of Harmony continued to shine, but the cave became conquered by darkness. The dragon grunted and shook himself clean of the dust and debris. The Corestone had disintegrated and now lied in ashes on the cave floor. Standing up, the dragon looked upon the darkened tree, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He shook away the feeling and his gaze drifted off as he felt himself being watched. “Your time is over princess.” He growled. “It has begun.” Celestia screamed as she sat up from her bed, her chest heaving. A sharp pain filled her head as the vision haunted it. Almost instantly, Princess Luna flew into the room through the window. “Sister! Was it….?” “Get word of this to Shining Armor immediately!” Celestia commanded. She jumped out from her bed and spread her wings. “Captain!” she shouted. A royal guard pony opened the door to her room and galloped inside, stopping in front of her. “Yes princess?” he asked quickly. “Organize all available guards!” she said, her eyes turning desperately to the window and out into the world. “We must make haste to the Everfree Forest!” Twilight and Starfall sat on the couch with everypony else around them. “So, we are all in agreement then?” Twilight asked, looking around. Pinkie Pie started hopping up and down. “Yep, yep, yep! Starfall guards you, the princess, around the clock, but when she asks Starfall to take a break, he gets to come hang out with us and have fun! Right!?” Twilight looked at Pinkie with her normal dealing-with-Pinkie-Pie face. “Not quite; I want you to uphold your royal guard duties,” she said, turning to Starfall. “But I don’t want it to dictate your every moment in Ponyville, I mean, you will be living here after all. So, basically, you will accompany me whenever we leave Ponyville, but while we are here, I want you to just be you. If you want to go out and see the town, you go. If you want to accompany me around for a while, you do. And if you want to hang out with anypony else, you do just that.” Starfall tilted his head. “Are you sure you don’t want to set up a more organized system of my stay here?” he asked. “Believe me, I would love to organize anything.” Twilight said with a bit of pride. “But like I said, you are going to be living here, and besides, if you are as great a guard as Princess Celestia said you are, I should be in good hooves.” “That is very generous of you princess.” Starfall said, straightening up. Twilight smiled and raised an eye brow, as if expecting something. “Oh! I mean, Twilight.” Everypony in the room laughed as Starfall scratched the back of his head. The front door to the castle swung open and lightning outside filled the castle with a thunderous clap. Rainbow Dash was the first to the hall, she gasped when she looked in the direction of the door. “Everypony come quick!” she shouted, flying out the door. Everypony came galloping out to see Zecora limping inside, only to collapse onto the floor. Her fur was dirty from dragging herself through the woods and there were claw marks around her neck. “Zecora!” Twilight cried, racing by her side. “What happened to you!?” “Attacked I was, but you mustn’t worry. To the castle ruins, all of you must hurry!” she managed to say with a weakened voice. Rarity looked at up at Twilight. “The Castle of the Two Sisters?” she asked. “Why in the wide world of Equestria would we go there at this late hour?” Zecora attempted at standing, getting closer to Twilight. “A monster has come that is forbidden! To find what you and I have hidden!” It clicked to Twilight almost immediately. “The Alicorn Amulet!” “You mean, that thing Trixie used to take over Ponyville?” Fluttershy asked. “Zecora and I hid it in the Castle of the Two Sisters where we knew no-pony would find it.” Twilight said quickly. “What monster Zecora!?” Zecora shook her head. “What it was I do not know, but there is no time, you must go!” Twilight nodded. “Spike, you stay with Zecora until we come back.” Spike saluted her. “You can count on me!” “Everypony else, let’s go!” Twilight said, all of them galloping out into the night. Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Starfall took to the sky as Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, and Starlight ran straight for the Everfree border. As soon as they left, Trixie came waddling down the steps with her sleep mask still on. “What’s all the commotion about?” she asked in a half-asleep accent. She used her magic to lift her sleep mask and yawned, looking around. “Starlight? Where did you go?” As the four ponies flew through the night, Starfall hurried beside Twilight. “Did you say the Alicorn Amulet?” he asked. “As in the Alicorn Amulet?” “Yes, it gives anypony who wears it unmatched magical powers.” Twilight answered. “Zecora and I are the only ones who know where it is, but I don’t understand how this monster knew that. We haven’t spoken of it since we hid it.” Rainbow looked up at the sky as the storm clouds grew. “I know the Everfree Forest has some enchanted weather, but this storm literally came out of nowhere.” “We need to hurry,” Twilight urged them, seeing the lightning spanning for miles. “It looks like it is only getting worse.” Although the ponies galloping in the forest didn’t have to brave the storm’s winds, Twilight’s group arrived at the ruins first. Lightning racked the skies and the wind howled furiously as they entered the already open gates of the castle. Twilight knew exactly where the amulet should be. “This way, hurry!” All four ponies took off down one of the halls, following Twilight as she led them towards the secret room in the castle library. While rounding a corner in the courtyard, lightning struck one of the corner towers, sending flying debris down upon them. Rainbow tackled Fluttershy out of the way while Twilight and Starfall managed to reach the other side of the courtyard before the stones landed. Twilight came to a halt and shouted out, “Rainbow! Fluttershy!” After a moment, they heard, “We’re alright! Just keep going, we’ll catch up!” “No,” Twilight replied. “Meet us back at the entrance!” Twilight and Starfall resumed their sprint and entered the library. Twilight pulled the chair at the end of the table and the hidden chamber opened. She ran to a particular bookshelf and used her magic to pull out a dusty book called, “Starswirl’s Mysteries Vol. 4”. She opened it and pulled the inside of the cover away to reveal the Alicorn Amulet, still safe and sound. “Oh thank goodness.” She sighed in relief, closing it back up. Starfall had kept watch while they were in the room, and he said, “We should find the others and get out of here. I don’t like the way Zecora referred to this monster.” Twilight trotted up beside him. “Alright, allow me.” She used her teleport spell to make them both disappear. Rainbow and Fluttershy trotted through the castle halls, having to find a different way back. “Are you sure this is the right direction?” Fluttershy asked. “Of course I’m sure!” Rainbow snapped. They came to a crossway in the hall and stopped. “Ummm…..uh…..” “Rainbow Dash, we can’t get lost in here!” Fluttershy cried. Rainbow cackled. “Relax, if that monster shows up, I’ll give ‘em a good thrashing!” Fluttershy trembled as she looked around the darkened halls. “It’s not the monster I’m afraid of….” The wind could still be heard even this far into the ruins, and the fear they felt all those nights ago didn’t seem to be gone just yet. “Oh come on!” Rainbow said bravely. “You remember there was no shadow pony, it was just Pinkie messing with us.” “Are you honestly going to stand there and tell me you’re not even a slightest bit afraid?” Fluttershy managed to say, her teeth chattering. Rainbow crossed her hooves. “Of course I’m not!” The bone chilling sound of the castle organ echoed through the halls, making both pegusi zip together in an instant. A haunting melody filled the air and the thunder only made it worse. “E-even now?” Fluttershy asked, holding Rainbow tight. “Y-yeah, even now.” Rainbow lied, releasing her friend even though her friend stayed attached to her. “Come on, we’ve gotta get out of here!” A loud note from the organ pierced the air and the walls around the two rotated quickly, striking them both into opposite passages and resetting where they were. Rainbow went flying out into the sky as the passage had shut her out on the castle balcony. She spun around and tried forcing the wall open, but it didn’t budge. “Fluttershy!” she shouted. Hearing voices, Rainbow turned and saw Starlight’s group arriving while Twilight and Starfall came out from the front door. Rainbow quickly flew down to them. “Rainbow Dash!” Rarity said frantically, looking around. “Where is Fluttershy?” “She’s trapped inside!” Rainbow shouted, “Come on, we have to find her!” Fluttershy remained cowering on the cold, stone floor for a minute or two. She peaked out from under her hooves and saw a very dimly lit passage ahead of her, the torches on the wall barely lighting the way. As strong as she had become since their last endeavor here, Fluttershy was unimaginably scared, alone, and on the verge of tears. “Rainbow…?” she whispered into the dark. No reply. “Anypony…?” Again, nothing. Slowly rising from the floor, her heart raced as she walked cautiously through the dim torch-light. “Hello….?” She whispered. Fear kept an icy grip over her as she walked, trembling. She closed her eyes and said quietly. “What would Pinkie Pie do? What would Pinkie Pie do?” Opening her eyes, she glanced around and lowered her head a little. “So, giggle at the ghostly….” She whispered. “Guffaw at the grossly. Crack up at the creepy.” Her voice made a very faint echo as she navigated the dark path. “Whoop it up with the weepy. Chortle at the kooky. Snortle at the spooky.” The hall opened up into a strange chamber that Fluttershy had never seen before. Her song petered off as she realized she had never been in this part of the castle before; there were statues, some whole, some broken, in the open and against the walls. Only a few of the torches were lit, and they were spread out so far that the entire room was lit equally dim. A sound much like a quiet gasp made Fluttershy jump for cover behind one of the statues. After a moment, however, Fluttershy recognized that sound, ‘the frightened gasp’, she used it enough to recognize it. “H-hello?” she offered into the dark, poking her head out from the statue. Her whisper was met with silence. “Is somepony there?” A slight scuffling was heard in the dark, which sounded a lot like frantic hiding. “Y-you can come out.” Fluttershy said, still a bit frightened. “I’m scared.” Came a voice from the dark. Normally a voice in the dark of castle ruins would make Fluttershy lose her mind, but this time, she found it liberating. “I’m scared too.” she admitted. “But we don’t have to be scared of each other, why don’t you come on out?” “……but then you’ll be even more afraid.” The voice replied. Fluttershy’s motherly side triumphed over her fears this time, and she said, “I promise I won’t be frightened, please, come out. We can find a way out of here together.” After a few more moments of silence, something emerged from behind one of the statues. Fluttershy held fast on her promise, not moving from where she stood as the figure moved towards her. Into the light inched a pitch black pony with brilliant gold colored eyes. He had no cutie mark, and his mane and tail were tattered and flowing behind him slowly. “You see?” Fluttershy swallowed, overcoming her initial fear. The dark pony lowered his head. “You aren’t afraid?” “You don’t seem like a bad pony, so there is nothing to be afraid of.” Fluttershy said with a smile. “My name is Fluttershy, what’s yours?” The dark pony inched away a little. “I….I don’t remember….I don’t know where I am….I don’t know what I am.” He said, looking down at himself. “Oh dear.” Fluttershy said, feeling sad for the strange pony. “C-can you help me?” he asked her fearfully. “This place is scary.” Fluttershy walked over beside him and lifted one of her wings over him. “We can help each other.” She answered him. “I think this place is scary too.” The two began their walk into the dark. Everypony searched and searched, but there was no sign of Fluttershy. They all met up back at the castle entrance. “There has to be somewhere we aren’t looking.” Rainbow said frantically. Applejack took in a few deep breathes. “We’ve looked everywhere in the castle, even that there organ room at the bottom.” “I agree with Rainbow Dash,” Rarity stepped up. “There are so many of those dreadful secret passages, she must be in one of them.” A royal trumpet sounded off in the air. Everypony turned to see a literal army of royal guards flooding into the area, followed by Princess Celestia. “Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked her. “What are you doing here?” Celestia landed before them and seemed just as shocked that they were there, but she still ordered her guards, saying, “Search the castle grounds, and find that creature!” The army of ponies scattered into the chasm and into the ruins. “Creature?” Twilight asked. “Wait, you knew that Zecora was attacked too? Did Spike send you a letter?” “Twilight, what do you mean Zecora was attacked?” Celestia replied. Twilight began to explain. “Zecora said she was attacked by something in the castle that was searching for this.” She opened the book and showed Celestia the Alicorn Amulet. Celestia quickly used her magic to close the book. “Keep that out of sight.” Celestia warned in a hushed tone, her eyes glancing around the castle grounds. “You all need to return to Ponyville immediately.” “B-but Fluttershy is still in there somewhere!” Pinkie said frightfully. “We got separated,” Rainbow explained. “We don’t know where she is!” Celestia looked up at the ruins and could feel the magical veil gone. She looked back down at everypony, saying, “My guards are searching over every inch in that castle, they will find her, but all of you need to remain out here. Starfall, do not leave Twilight’s side, no matter what.” “Yes princess.” Starfall obeyed. Celestia spread her wings and took flight over the ruins. Fluttershy and the dark pony timidly made their way down a few ancient hallways, not finding the slightest hint of a way out. The storm filled the air with rumbles, but there was no light anywhere. “I have never been in here before….” Fluttershy said quietly, peering around. The two of them mostly kept silent as they traversed the passageway. “So….you can’t remember anything? Anything at all?” The dark pony shook his head, but then stopped, pausing for a few seconds. “I….I remember a bright light, a-and a rush of cold air.” He said, sounding scared. “And a voice….saying, something….” Fluttershy felt really bad for this poor creature. While he was rather scary to look at, he was genuinely afraid, more so even than her. “Well let’s not worry about that now.” She said, trying to comfort him. He managed a small smile in return. Taking a few more steps, a loud bang rattled the halls, opening the walls in several places to a more lit chamber. Both the dark pony and Fluttershy leapt behind some debris and hid, peering out at the openings. Royal guards were all over, checking for each and every hidden passage they could find. Fluttershy went to stand, but stopped when she saw the dark pony cowering away from the sight of them. “It’s alright,” she tried assuring him. “Those are Princess Celestia’s guards-” The mention of the princess’ name made the dark pony’s vision go black, all of the sound and all of time fading away. He saw the silhouette of a pony facing him, but couldn’t quite make out who it was. There was a bright flash, and then a gust of wind made him quiver. A deep voice then spoke out to the silhouette as if from him, very faded, and barely heard. “The day will……when I……and bring about…..of your pitiful……” “Hey,” Fluttershy said, snapping him out of his trance and back to reality. “Are you alright?” The dark pony shook his head wildly, looked at her, and then peered out at all the guards. “What if they think I’m a monster?” he asked her, sounding terrified. “I-I just want to leave…..you will help me, won’t you?” Fluttershy looked back up at all the royal guards, and then back at her scared friend. She didn’t think they would hurt him, but he did have a point. Perhaps it would be best if she helped him get out unseen. “I will.” She answered him with a smile. The two snuck out from the passage and began their attempt to sneak outside without being seen. The dark pony kept close behind Fluttershy, unable to think straight as he feared what the guards would do to him if he were to be spotted. Fluttershy managed to get them both to a familiar chamber without being detected, but then they heard hoof steps coming from all of the hallways. “Oh no….” Fluttershy gasped quietly, looking around but finding nowhere to hide. The hoof steps became louder and louder until they were almost upon them. The dark pony looked behind them, seeing a bit of shade, and in desperation, he grabbed Fluttershy and pulled the two of them into it, a veil of darkness turning them into shadows. The two held onto each other tight as the guards all entered the chamber at the same time, looking directly at the two of them, and then around everywhere else. They continued on their ways, not seeing the hiding ponies at all. As soon as they were gone, the two of them turned from shadows back into themselves, still holding each other. “H-how did you do that?” Fluttershy asked him. The dark pony looked around at himself quickly. “I-I don’t know….it just, happened.” They released each other and resumed their silent retreat down the correct hallway. Coming across the damaged courtyard, Fluttershy saw the small gap in the wall made from the castle’s corrosion. They both galloped over to it and weaseled their way through the hole, coming out on the eastern side of the castle. The dark pony turned to Fluttershy, saying, “Thank you, thank you so much.” “You don’t need to thank me.” Fluttershy replied with another of her cute smiles. “Helping each other is what friends do.” Eyes widening, the dark pony looked surprised, and confused. “We’re friends?” he asked her. “Of course we are.” She said, tilting her head. The dark pony looked down at the ground, trying to process something. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a friend before….” Fluttershy embraced him with a hug. “Well you do now.” At first, the dark pony remained motionless as the pegasus hugged him. But he then slowly lifted his hooves up and hugged her back, closing his eyes. “A friend….” He whispered. The two separated after a few moments and Fluttershy said, “You should go before somepony sees you.” Still a bit choked up from the hug, the dark pony nodded, turning to gallop into the forest. “Oh, wait!” Fluttershy quickly added, stopping him. “You will need a name. I know you don’t remember yours, so why don’t you make one?” The dark pony turned back to her, thinking to himself. He got an idea, although he wasn’t sure it was the best one. “How about Shadow Light?” he suggested. Fluttershy nodded, giving him a confidence boost. “Sounds perfect.” Shadow trotted back over to her. “Will I ever see you again?” he asked. “I’m sure we’ll meet again someday.” Fluttershy said hopefully. Shadow took a few more moments to smile at her, and then turned and galloped into the forest, headed north-east. As she watched him flee, she whispered, “I hope I did the right thing.” “Princess,” said the captain from the air. “We’ve searched the entire castle top to bottom; there is no sign of the creature or Fluttershy.” “Search again!” Rainbow shouted. Celestia looked up at the captain. “Please, search it all again.” The captain nodded and the guards resumed their search. “Princess Celestia,” Twilight said, walking up to her. “You have to let us help.” Celestia looked very concerned, saying, “Twilight, you have to under-” Pinkie Pie gasped. “Look, look, look! It’s Fluttershy!” Everypony turned to see Fluttershy walking down the path from the eastern part of the castle wall. They all galloped over to her and Pinkie was the first to give her a big Pinkie-Pie hug. “I’m glad,” Fluttershy took in a squeezed breath. “To see you too Pinkie.” “Where did you go Fluttershy?” Applejack asked. “We’ve been search’n everywhere for you.” Remembering Shadow’s fears of being found, she came up with an alteration of what happened. “When Rainbow and I got separated, I tried hiding at first to see if she would find me. But then I followed the passage and it led out into the courtyard.” “I am glad you are safe Fluttershy.” Princess Celestia said with a sigh of relief. “But now all of you need to return to Ponyville. This place is too dangerous for you.” “But princess-” Twilight began to say. “Please Twilight.” Celestia begged her. “Return home with your friends, I can handle this.” Knowing that Celestia was just trying to protect her and her friends, Twilight nodded her head. “Alright, just be careful.” Celestia nodded in return. “I will.” Celestia resumed her search with her guards as everypony else returned to Ponyville in one big group. From up in the storm clouds, scarlet eyes watched the ponies disappear into the forest. They then looked to Ponyville, smoke snorting out from the dark. And, in a flash, they were gone. Spike and Trixie had managed to get Zecora to Ponyville General Hospital by the time everypony returned to the castle. Twilight, Starlight, and Starfall visited her while everypony else went home to get what few hours of sleep they could before dawn. Entering the room, Spike and Trixie were both asleep on lounge chairs. Twilight walked up beside Zecora, seeing her resting peacefully. “It looks like she will be alright.” Twilight said, breathing out a heavy, exhausted sigh. Starfall trotted up beside her. “You need to get some rest Twilight,” he said, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “You’ve had a long night.” “I need her to know I have the amulet.” Twilight replied. “It is very important to us that it is kept safe.” Starlight walked up to them too. “Starfall is right Twilight. You two go back to the castle and bring Spike, I’ll stay here with Trixie and the amulet.” Twilight wouldn’t have trusted anypony else with the amulet other than Starlight, and so, reluctantly, she handed the Alicorn Amulet over to her. “Just….” Twilight said, her eyes focusing on Trixie. “Make sure she doesn’t put it on again.” Starlight muffled a laughed. “I’ll be sure.” Starfall helped Twilight to the door, who was exhausted, while carrying Spike on his back. Starlight sat down beside Trixie, who was lightly talking in her sleep. “No, no, not the flying pig again, Discord you…..” Starlight chuckled to herself, taking a book off of the table with her magic to read. The storm from over the Everfree Forest could still be heard off in the distance. Not ten minutes after Twilight and Starfall left, Zecora stirred about on the bed. Starlight put the book aside and walked over to her side. “Zecora? Can you hear me?” Zecora opened her eyes and they lazily looked around. “Where am I now I wonder? And why is it that I hear thunder?” “You are in the Ponyville Hospital Zecora,” Starlight told her. “You will be alright, you just need to rest some more.” Zecora’s eyes went wide and she tried to sit up, failing. “The amulet, do you have it!?” she asked quickly, sounding restless. Starlight used her magic to make the Alicorn Amulet rise into view. Zecora calmed down at the sight of it and closed her eyes. Starlight paused, thinking to herself, “Did she just say something without it-” Very suddenly, Zecora said, “Thank you Starlight, you are very wise indeed. Something that this world is in definite need.” Starlight pushed aside her concern and smiled. “Just get some sleep Zecora, you should feel better in the morning.” Zecora closed her eyes again and drifted asleep as Starlight returned to the chair beside Trixie, nodding off as well.