//------------------------------// // Chapter Thirteen: Worst Knightmares // Story: Darkest Star // by The1Ryu //------------------------------// Chapter Thirteen Worst Knightmares Fluttershy, normally the most cautious and aware of her friends, a nervous pony was always on the lookout for danger, had been too preoccupied with Dark Star to notice the creatures that had encircled them. They leaped from the darkness all around them pitch black ponies Fluttershy could barely tell apart from the surrounding gloom. Their bodies were emaciated, they had hollow, sunken eyes and fang stuffed mouths. As they revealed themselves, their manes and tails lit up in blue flame allowing her to see them more easily. Dark Star’s magic ripped a stone from the ground and shot it at one of the three creatures with such speed the projectile had torn through the creature’s chest before it even had a chance to move. It staggered for a few step before collapsing into a puff of smoke and wafting away. Heeding Dark Star’s demand Fluttershy dove to the ground, Dark Star wound up his hind legs and slam them into the creature that was tried to leap on the cowering Fluttershy. The creature flew back and hit the ground with a thud, but not so much as uttering a sound of pain. The third tried to leap on Dark Star, but the stallion thrust his blade-like horn up into the creature’s chest. Dark Star grunted holding the weight of the creature up for a moment before it too disappeared in a puff of smoke that wafted away. The second was up by then, it seemed more hesitant to attack this time, but Dark Star whipped around his horn aglow and slashed out with it. His horn channeled his magic gathering a high pressured current of air that whipped across the creature’s neck. The creature’s head began to slide away from its body, but before it fell off completely away, the creature followed its sisters’ example and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Dark Star’s gray eyes scanned the gloom of the forest around them for any sigh of movement before he relaxed and looked down at Fluttershy still cowering nearby, her hooves covering her eyes. “It’s all right they're gone now.” Fluttershy peeked out from between her hooves searching for any sign of the flame-maned ponies. Finding none, she stood, with a silent sigh and quickly shuffled over to huddle next to Dark Star. “What were they?” “Knightmares,” Dark Star answered as he started walking again. Fluttershy trotted quickly alongside him nervously checking all around them for more of the creatures as Dark Star explained further. “They are physical manifestations of bad dreams.” “No wonder their so terrible,” Fluttershy shivered at the thought of their hollow eyes. “Those are just weaklings,” Dark Star shrugged and Fluttershy stared up at him wide-eyed. “They stalk the edge of their territory lest they get consumed by their more powerful kin.” “B-but how can they be… real if they’re just bad dreams?” Fluttershy Stammered looking up at him with a terror similar to that which she'd shown when he'd first confronted her. There was no turn of determination this time; the fear didn't give way to her unusual courage. Dark Star remained silent a moment her eyes far away, remembering and yet uncertain. It was so unlike him, and he quickly pushed away from the uncertainty and explained. “A long time ago a pony accidentally broke the seal between the waking and dream worlds, specifically the land of nightmares. When the Nightmare King discovered this, he tried to use the rift to enter the waking world. However, as a dream being, he couldn't take form in the waking world, but he sensed there was a being tied to the world of dreams and powerful enough to be his vessel." "Princess Luna," Fluttershy gasped Dark Star nodded, "He used his power to give form and thought to smoke and sent his servants out to find the pony. He did eventually capture her, but before he could complete his ritual and merge with her Starlight saved her and together they sealed the rift. Many of his servants remained in our world, they gather around the rift, but they are unable to break the seal and are too fearful of the princesses to venture into pony lands." Fluttershy watched Dark Star intently as he told the story, she could not help but smile at the thought of him fighting alongside Princess Luna. But her smile faltered realizing that it hadn't been Dark Star as he was now there with the princess, but Starlight. A pony that was supposedly more fearful and timid than even she was. With only one friend at his side, no magic or flight to aid him it, she couldn't imagine what it was like for him to face something so frightening. Fluttershy ear pinned back and she looked down, she could hardly face the simplest dangers without her friends. Shaking away her self-pity, Fluttershy looked back up at Dark Star and wondered why was he coming back here now? “Watch out!” Dark Star shouted, and Fluttershy looked up to see a half dozen more knightmares come crashing out of the dark surroundings and barrel down upon the pair. These looked bigger than the last and yet moved even faster. Fluttershy’s eyes locked with one of the knightmare’s and suddenly she felt like they were all staring directly at her and only her. She was alone beneath their gaze as the sound of laughter came to her ears. A hoof pushed Fluttershy down onto her stomach causing her to jump, but it held her in place as she looked back to see Dark Star standing over her, his horn glowing with dark light. His focused eyes were fixed on the group of knightmares and with a flourish of his horn, he unleashed a powerful blast of freezing air. The two of the pony creatures on the edges of the blast leaped aside with a sudden burst of speed evading the spell. The pair that had been leading the group in its charge leaped at Dark Star as the spell struck them full force. Both were instantly frozen solid, mid-leap, into icy statues which dropped like stones from the air and shattered upon impact. Dark Star shot forward charging one of the knightmares that had survived his spell, his blade-like horn flashed with magical energy and he stabbed it into the chest of the staggered creature causing it to disappear in a puff of black smoke which wafted away along with the smoke of the two shattered knightmares. Another, icicles still clinging to its coat, charged at Dark Star, and threw its hooves up to bring them down hard onto the stallion. Dark Star was far too swift for such a clumsy attack jumping aside and setting his horn aglow and thrusting it up into the air. A tall narrow stone spike followed suit and impaled the knightmare. Fluttershy watched closely this time, amazed and terrified by Dark Star’s combat prowess. But as she watched Dark Star swiftly dodge one of the remaining knightmare’s and sink his glowing blade-like horn into its side she failed to notice the inky black tentacle that slid forth from the forest towards her. As Dark Star shot a stone through the last of the knightmares, the tentacle shot forth and wrapped around Fluttershy’s midsection and yanked her back towards the gloom. “Dark Star!” Fluttershy cried out struggling frantically. “Fluttershy!” Dark Star eyes shot wide as his heart began racing, a pain he’d not felt in a thousand year clutched at his chest. That pain instantly turned to rage as his horn began to glow brightly with his dark power. “Let her go!” He shouted. Not giving the creature a chance to comply he unleashed a blast of fire so bright and intense that at the same moment it revealed its body, that of a huge toad cover in postulating warts and thorns. The tentacle was its long stretchy tongue pulling Fluttershy towards its giant maw; it also consumed it. All that remained was the tongue still wrapped around Fluttershy, which now ended in a charred stump. It melted into a puff of dark smoke and wafted away. Dark Star stared, panting, at the vacant hole in the forest for several seconds before regaining his composure and found himself grateful that the magical fire consumed itself preventing it from spreading. But that was a small relief give the other dangers that had kept him from using that spell when he was more composed. “You saved me,” Fluttershy rushed to his side resisting the urge to throw her forelegs around his neck in gratitude and for her reassurance. “We have to get out of here,” He said curtly pushing her off of him and took off nearly in a dead run, his eyes full of a nervous fear that Fluttershy had never seen him express. Fluttershy's ear folded in disappointment at the rejection but ran after him knowing it would only take a few dozen feet between them for her to lose sight of him completely. Even though Dark Star was not quite running himself, she was hardly able to shrink the distance between them. Leaping up she spread her wings, she might have been a poor flier, but there was no doubt she was still faster in the air. Soon she was flying next to him, “Thank you Dark Star for saving me.” “I didn’t do it for you,” Dark Star looked up at her trying to be mad. She had been nothing but trouble, slowing him down, attracting unwanted attention and now almost getting him caught. But no matter how hard he tried he just could not bring ill feelings for her to the forefront of his mind. “Those creatures should not dare step from the shadows in my presences unless I call them, they should fear me.” Dark Star frowned, desperately digging deep down searching for those old dark feelings and bring them back to the surface, even the maddening voices were quiet. If only he could remember his anger, his hate he could wield them as weapons against the confusion Fluttershy instilled in him. Fluttershy’s eyes shot wide as a pain clutched at her chest. She dashed ahead landing in front of the stallion forcing him to stop. Behind her the forest canopy had opened wide over a dark lake, the light of the night sky shone down unhindered illuminating everything. She shook her head violently a few tears flying from her face, “No you can’t want that.” “Yes, I do!” Dark Star snapped back fixing her with a hard look. “What did you think? That I was just out here for a stroll? Maybe you thought I was coming out her to destroy these nightmares for the betterment of ponykind. Humph, of course not. I’m going to break the seal to the land of nightmares and join with my new master the Nightmare King.” “You can’t,” Fluttershy's face fell to disbelief and sadness. Shaking she pleaded, stepping closer to him. “Why would you ever want to do something so horrible?” Dark Star feature’s softened at her sad face, and he turned away from her. “Nightmare Moon betrayed me to remain that weakling ‘Princess’ Luna,” He spat the title, “But through my nightmares, my true master called to me, called me back to finish what I had started all those centuries ago. It had been Luna and Starlight that had freed him, and the Nightmare King had sought to use one of them as his vessel. Starlight was rejected because he was too weak and Luna managed to subdue the dark power he had infected her with. It wasn’t until after his defeat that Luna’s jealousy allowed that power to transform her into Nightmare Moon.” “I realized,” Dark Star let out a hollow chuckle as if trying to find it funny, “This whole time I had been following a false prophet, but now that she is gone for good I am ready to serve my true master.” As the truth of his evil intent passed from his lips, Dark Star felt his old feelings slither back into his heart. His voice became more strained as he spoke and he stared through Fluttershy as if speaking to a much more receptive audience. Fluttershy shrank away from him, more afraid now then she had ever been facing Dark Star. In her mind she screamed at herself to do something; that she had to stop him, that she could not let her friend do this to himself. Fluttershy gave a little jump at that thought as if remembering that Dark Star, a pony who had, for even longer than she had known him, hurt other ponies for him own evil gain. A pony who was so filled with anger and hate that he wanted to unleash a nightmare on the world. He was her dear friend, a pony filled with pain and loneliness. A pony she wanted to help. “Dark Star,” Fluttershy spoke softly stepping forward. Dark Star looked down at her his manic eyes barely recognizing her. “Let’s go back.” That seemed to confuse the stallion; he stared at her blankly for several moments as the mania melted from his face. Unfortunately, it was replaced with annoyance, he gave a snort and moved to stepped past Fluttershy. “I told you to go back twice already, you can try and go back now if you want, but you’ll probably just get lost and picked off by some knightmare." Fluttershy moved to step in his way again, seeing the return of his grumpy self as a good sign. “No, I, umm, I mean we should both go back together.” “There’s nothing for me to go back to,” Dark Star glared down at her coldly managing not to clench his teeth at the thought of returning to the Princess’ kingdom. “Well, you could… come stay with me.” Fluttershy blushed at the offer, shuffling nervously and staring down at her hooves. When Dark Star did not cut her off with a snapping comment, Fluttershy continued. “Y-you could help me take care of the animals. There is probably lots about animals, especially the nocturnal ones, that you know about, and we don’t have to tell the others if you don’t want to. It would be nice to have company-” “Enough!” Dark Star shouted and Fluttershy’s head shot up to find his eyes filled with tensely restrained rage. “Is this their plan? Is this why they sent you? To seduce me!” The crazed stallion advanced on Fluttershy causing her to back away shaking with fear, “N-no… w-who… what?” “Them!” Dark Star shouted continuing to advance on her, “The Princess, Luna, your clever little friend Twilight Sparkle.” He spat each name with disgust, “They knew didn’t they? They knew I was going to return to my true master and that they were too weak to stop me.” “No Dark Star, no pony knew-” Fluttershy tried to explain, but the mad stallion’s eyes pierced her own, not showing even the slightest indication of stemming his rage. She continued to back away from Dark Star until her hoof splashed against cold water. The panicked mare looked back to see a large dark lake that reflected distorted images of the stars and the moon above. “Why else would they send you, the weakest and most timid of the bunch? You’re just like he was!” Dark Star continued advanced on her, heedless of the danger. “Did they think that would soften me, make me lower my guard because you remind me of that pathetic colt?” The water began to churn as Fluttershy was forced back until the water was up to all four of her ankles. “It won’t work. I hate him, and I hate you!” The lake exploded, showering both ponies with a torrent of water as a pair of thick slimy tentacles shot up from the water and whipped towards the two ponies. The tentacles slammed into their sides, knocking the air out of them, and coiled tightly around their midsections. Before they could recover the tentacles yanked them hard pulling them towards the dark waters of the lake. “Fluttershy!” Panic replaced madness on Dark Star’s face seeing the mare getting pulled into the black waters. Without a second thought, he summoned his magic and a ray of searing energy shot forth from the tip of his horn slicing through the tentacle that held Fluttershy in a single swipe. The tentacle fell limp around Fluttershy and a moment later dissolved into black smoke. “Dark Star,” Fluttershy cried out as soon as she had gulped a fresh breath of air, but she could do little but watch as the stallion was dragged beneath the water. “No!” Dark Star set his horn aglow, the light straining to push back the murkiness of the water that even his eyes could not see through without aid. He struggled against the black tentacle, but it just tightened its grip around him for his efforts. Concentrating he used his magic to seize hold of the water around him, forming it into a high-pressure current just as he often did with the air. Then with a flick of his horn, he slashed the attack spell across the tentacle. The tentacle’s skin split apart like a grotesque mouth opening. Dark Star waited for the tentacle to slack, but instead, it constricted itself tighter around him as its wound sealed itself shut. Dark Star cursed at himself, of course, it would not hurt a knightmare of the water like this one, and every drop of water in the lake fed its power. Dark Star looked down to see the creature’s body come into view. However, rather than a proper body, the thing was just a massive black eye that reflected Dark Star’s terrified form back at him. Seeing the thing’s body Dark Star tried to focus again, the crushing tentacle and lack of air were making him light headed, and he was having increasing difficulty concentrating. Still, his will would not let him surrender, he summoned his magic and unleashed a blast of sonic energy at the creature. It pulsed through the water moving with even more intensity than it did in the air and slammed into the creature rippling through its body which was almost all water. The knightmare rippled sending pulses through the water in what Dark Star could only guess constituted as a cry of pain for the creature and whipped him through the water. Dark Star smiled at the reaction, but his victory was short-lived as a second tentacle shot up through the water and wrapped around him doubling the crushing force around his midsection. Knightmares liked live frightened pray, but this one’s preferences were overwritten by its desire to keep Dark Star from hurting it again. Already low on air Dark Star felt one of his ribs crack under the force of the squeezing tentacles, it was only thanks to his magically toughened body that he wasn't crushed instantly. His lungs still burned, his sides were buckling, and if he were not submerged in the dark water, he would have noticed the black spots crowding his vision. Still, Dark Star gritted his teeth with such ferocity that a coppery taste filled his mouth and concentrated. Dark magical energy gathered all around him and pushed out creating a bubble of intense pressure all around him. The force bubble crushed at the tentacles holding him prompting them to loosen their grip, but that was just a side effect of his spell. His magic pushed at the bubble of pressure which grew firmer as he applied pressure to it. The pressure built higher and higher until the bubble could no longer contain it, and it burst, unleashing the most powerful wave of sonic energy any pony could produce out in all directions. The blast ripped through the knightmare like it was shredding paper. The creature’s body fell apart before fading into the murky depths. Finally, free Dark Star tried to swim to the surface, but his limbs failed to heed his commands. Dark Star felt the burning in his chest grow worse and began mentally shouting frantically at his limbs to move but all they could manage was to weakly paw at the water as Dark Star began to sink deeper into the dark lake. He tried his magic, but it too was unresponsive, though his light spell continued to shine on bravely. Dark Star stared up at the shining halo that sat on the surface of the water above him and cursed himself. He had survived ten centuries and now would be defeated by a puddle of water. Growing too weak to fight was a lot like relaxing, everything when dark for a moment, a moment that seemed like a minute, as Dark Star blinked and readied himself to breathe in the cold, deadly water. Opening his eyes, he saw a figure descending through the water towards him. He thought of Death, the Pale Pony whom, when he had come for Dark Star after so many centuries, he had walked with as a friend, until he'd heard Princess Luna’s call, now death came for him again and Dark Star wondered if Death would be angry that he had escaped him. Before Dark Star realized the figure was close enough to do so it seized his hoof, he was surprised he could still feel, and a brilliant pair of sunshine wings filled his vision. He looked into the pony’s face seeing not the hollow face of Death, but a pair of soft, worried blue eyes. Turning from him, Dark Star felt the brilliant sunshine colored mare pull him up to the surface. The world around him continued to grow dark, but no matter how narrow his vision he never lost sight of her. She was always there, a ray of light shining down on an unworthy creature of the dark. --- Fluttershy broke the surface of the water with a long deep gasp of air, and, as quickly as her strength would allow, pulled Dark Star up out of the water. She pumped her three unoccupied hooves and rowed her wings through the water until the soft feel of the muddy shore greeted her hooves and she pulled them both onto the shore. “Dark Star, Dark Star!” She cried turning him over hoping he was alright, but he just flopped over unmoving. “Oh no, no no no!” Leaning over him, Fluttershy put her hooves on his chest and began pumping them, counting silently to herself. She reached the end of the first count and was reaching for his mouth when Dark Star coughed up a mouthful of water and gasped for air. “Dark Star!” Fluttershy cried with a smile, tears stinging her eyes. She wrapped her hooves around his shoulders and clutched him to her careful not to squeeze too hard, as she buried her face in his wet mane. “I was so scared.” Dark Star thought to push her off of him, but instead wrapped his hooves around her and pulled her close burying his face into her wet mane. “Y-you saved me.” “Of course,” She spoke into his mane, “You saved me first. I couldn’t leave you. I-I didn’t know if I could find you, but I saw your light, it was a star that led me to you.” Dark Star chuckled, “Good thing you’re a strong swimmer.” “I’m not really,” Fluttershy sniffed pulling back to give her nose a little wipe with a sniffle. “I don’t really go swimming all that much, just when I have to visit the beavers. Even then I just hover above the water. But I’ve had a lot of practice holding my breath so now I can do it for a long time.” Dark Star gave Fluttershy a confused look, “Where did you practice holding your breath if you don’t swim?” “Oh playing ‘Shh,' I’m the world champ,” Fluttershy said proudly, but Dark Star still looked confused. “You know, the game.” “Ya,” He nodded, that ‘game’ had been used by parents to try and keep their foals quiet since before his time, not that many foals fell for it. “Well when I was playing I would usually get bored, so I’d hold my breath for as long as I could. Then I would try and beat my time; I made a kinda game out of it.” Dark Star stared blankly at her, “You made up a game… to pass the time… while playing a game?” “Mm-hmm,” Fluttershy softly confirmed. Dark Star stared at the mare for several more silent moments before a smile broke his stony façade and he could not help but begin laughing out loud. Fluttershy was surprised that instead of embarrassment, humor bubbled up in her chest as well and her soft giggling joined Dark Star’s laughter. The laughter continued for a solid minute before against either's expectation Dark Star reached out with his snout and rubbed it against Fluttershy’s. Their eyes remained shut as Fluttershy began to respond in kind. After several long moments, they sighed contently and pulled back their eyes opening. Dark Star saw love and longing in Fluttershy’s blue eyes and felt that his own must be a gray imitation. They began to lean back into to one another, any contestation of reason was pushed far back in their minds their pure emotions taking control. Their lips parting slightly as they sought each other. But before they could meet an image of a cowering Fluttershy, wide, frightened eyes staring up at Dark Star as she mouthed the word “monster” flashed in his mind. “No!” Dark Star gasped pushing her away. “Dark Star?” Hurt eyes watched the stallion climb to his hooves refusing to look at her. Blushing deeply, Fluttershy looked away from him as well and too climbed to her hooves and moved over to him reaching out with a reassuring hoof. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-” “No!” Dark Star jumped back from her touch as if he was afraid it would burn him. His eyes had returned to their manic state, but rather than angry they looked scared and confused. “You don’t understand what I am, what I’m going to do… You’re just trying to stop me, distract me…” Dark Star paced and whispered so quietly that Fluttershy could only make out the occasional meaningless word. It was as if he'd forgotten all they had gone through in the past day or more, and he had regressed back to the pony who had first caught her trying to follow him. She watched him; her eyes lit with concern as she tentatively spoke, “Dark Star?” “I can’t be distracted! I have to serve him!” He cried suddenly and threw open his wing, taking to the air and speeding off into the forest. “No, wait!” Fluttershy cried after him. She ran a few paces and jumped spreading her wings to carry her into the air, but the wet feathers were like weights on her side, and she crashed back into the forest floor not even traveling a foot. Looking back up, Fluttershy realized it was too late; Dark Star had disappeared into the gloom of the dark forest. Fluttershy’s chest tightened with panic; not a single thought was spared on the knightmare filled forest she was in. Her only thoughts were of Dark Star and what he might do if she was not there to stop him. He was lonely, scared and he needed her. “Fluttershy!” A chorus of voices cried out through the woods grabbing Fluttershy’s attention. It was her friend’s voices, they had found her. Climbing to her hooves she ran towards the sound of the voices, “I’m here!” She cried back, knowing with their help she would be able to find Dark Star. She had only run a dozen feet when a pair of mandibles shot out of a nearby gloom and snatched her up in its grasp. She screamed and struggled against its tight grip in vain. The mandibles were attached to an armored chiton arm about half as thick as her body. It pulled her in as an immense insect-like creature emerged from the dark staring up at her with insect-like eyes. It clacked its pincers ominously as it spoke, “Fluttershy,” in her friends’ collective voices. Fluttershy struggled, letting out a single desperate cry for help, “Dark Star!” There was a sudden flash of spectral light and the sound of hooves slamming into the knightmare’s thick armored body. The mandible clutching Fluttershy slacked, and she slipped from its grasp. She started to fall, but a familiar blue and rainbow maned figure raced towards her, catching Fluttershy in their hooves as they raced past the knightmare. “Rainbow Dash!” “The one and only,” Rainbow Dash flashed her old friend a smile and gave her a wink “Thank Celestia you’re here,” Fluttershy threw her forelegs around Rainbow Dash’s neck squeezing her in a fierce hug. “Ahh, not a good time to be choking the pilot,” Rainbow Dash gasped and banked hard dodging the lumbering swing of the knightmare’s armored arm. Climbing into the air to escape Rainbow Dash turned and shouted over her shoulder, “Un you guys can start helping any time now!” “Yer the one who went flyin’ off one yer own!” Applejack’s voice called back. Fluttershy looked down to see Applejack slam her hooves into the knightmare’s ankle. The insectoid monster cried out in a high screech that must have been its natural voice as the strength in the leg gave out, and it fell to its knee. “If I hadn’t Fluttershy would be bug food.” Rainbow Dash shouted back swooping back to the ground where she released her hold on Fluttershy before rushing back to help Applejack. “Fluttershy!” Rarity’s voice called out, the still somewhat dazed Fluttershy turned slowly to seen the white mare rush up and embrace her. She was followed quickly by Pinkie Pie who giggled happily seeing that her friend was all right. “Oh, we were so, so worried about you!” “Make sure she’s all right girls, we’ll take care of this.” Twilight Sparkle ran in firing a beam of light from her horn into the knightmare’s face. It cried out again, throwing its head from side to side and pawing at its eyes desperately. The Princesses flew in next, hovering on either side of the creature they released by a pulse of magic. The knightmare dissolved into black smoke, but this time the smoke dissipated instead of wafting away. “Fluttershy, darling, are you all right?” Rarity asked once the knightmare was gone completely. “Yes I knew you would find me,” Fluttershy said taking a deep breath to ease her nerves. “Dark Star said he was preventing you from tracking us, but I knew you'd find a way.” “We might not have, if he hadn’t used that fire spell of his,” Twilight admitted softly, worried eyes traced over Fluttershy’s features. “He didn’t hurt you did he.” “Dark Star wouldn’t hurt me,” Fluttershy shook her head. But saying that caused her friends’ to all look at her with confusion and a hint of anger. “What! He tried to kill us!” Rainbow Dash said, angrily stepping up to Fluttershy who shrank away hiding behind her mane. A sharp tug on her tail suddenly halted Rainbow Dash's advance. She turned back to, predictably, see Applejack yanking on her tail. “Ease up their Dash.” Rainbow Dash frowned, but took a step back from Fluttershy and tugged her tail out of her blond friend’s grasp. “Sorry Flutter, but that stallion’s seriously bad news.” “Yes Fluttershy, thy was very brave to follow Dark Star as thou did, but I fear that there could only be one reason my old friend would come to this place. I can only pray that thee will tell me I am wrong.” Princess Luna looked down at Fluttershy with pleading eyes. Fluttershy looked down, sadness filling her eyes, and silence hung heavy in the air for several moments before she spoke. “He said he was going to free the Nightmare King and… join with him.” Princess Luna form slumped at that as if it had drained all her strength. “He has gone completely mad then.” “Then what are we standin’ ‘round here fer!” Applejack stepped up to the princess of the night a determined look on her face. The princesses had told them the tale of Starlight and the Nightmare King when they had followed Dark Star’s attack spell into knightmare territory. “Let’s stop him for good this time,” Rainbow Dash muttered through clenched teeth as she punched her hooves together. “No!” Fluttershy cried causing everyone to look at her again. Fluttershy thought back to all that had happened since Dark Star had come to their town. He had done many evil things, but she could not recall one he had done purely out of cruelty. Even his harsh words against her that she was weak and unless were said in anger and directed more at the pony he used to be then her. Dark Star was not cruel he was just a hurt, angry pony and Fluttershy knew she could not let him face that hurt alone anymore. “Dark Star isn’t all bad,” She said at length looking up at her friends and standing a little taller. “He protected me and was nice to me, and the animals. Maybe… we can help him.” Fluttershy awaited torrent of opposition she thought would follow. Instead, she felt a wing drape over her. She looked up to see Princess Celestia smiling calmly down at her. “That was why you called out for him when you were in danger, wasn’t it, my little pony.” Fluttershy just nodded, looking as if she might begin to cry at any moment. The others were quiet for a long time before Princess Luna finally spoke up. “Perhaps Star Knight is still buried deep within Dark Star’s mind, trying to get out. Perhaps if thou use the Elements of Harmony on Dark Star once more, then Star Knight could be drawn out.” “But the Elements did not have any effect on Dark Star the last time we used them against him.” Rarity pointed out. “That’s not exactly true,” Twilight Sparkle stepped in grinning optimistically. “He became much less violent, trying to incapacitate rather than truly harm us. He didn’t seem to have the same consideration when he first attacked us.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash frowned grimly at the reminder of their attacks. “It seems probable that we could change him back if we used the Elements of Harmony on him again. After all, much of his current instability is due to the dark magic he absorbed and we know the Elements will banish that from him.” Twilight concluded turning back to her friends; the Princesses nodded in agreement. “I suppose even a brute like Dark Star deserves a second chance.” Rarity said uneasily but nodded in approval. “It’s worth a try!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly. “Whatever y'all think is best,” Applejack conceded and a none too happy Rainbow Dash gave a frustrated huff at her bangs, not objecting. “Then we had best hurry,” Princess Luna took to the air and swooping to the front of the herd. “It will not take Dark Star long to perform the ritual and break the seal once he has reached the castle.” “You will all need these,” Princess Celestia said levitating up an ornate box which contained the Elements of Harmony and passed each one to its bearer. Fluttershy watched the others clasp their element on with renewed confidence, but to her, the element felt like a weight.