Chapter 16: "Dark Hearts."
Back in the present day, Daring Do was now leaning forward over the top of the chair she had taken a seat to listen to Luna's story, more than excited to hear more. "And?? Who'd she choose?" Daring asked eagerly. She had become completely immersed in Luna's story to the point she had forgotten why she had even come up here with her.
Luna smiled at her as she closed the book and set it back on the shelf. "My sister chose Sunset Shimmer, of course."
Daring raised an eyebrow. "Really? But I thought you said she hadn't really even done the test."
"She didn't need to. Out of all the unicorns in the room, Sunset Shimmer understood the real thing that my sister was looking for that day. Not a powerful unicorn with great knowledge of magic, but somepony who shared her ideals regarding the importance of friendship and what it meant to all of us."
Daring laughed as she got up from her seat. "Yeah, we'll I can't think of a worse student to teach that, then Moonbeam." Daring scoffed.
Luna looked over at the window, the moon peering in and reflecting its light all around them. "Moonbeam was enraged when Sunset had been chosen. She stormed out of the lecture hall, and slammed the door so hard it smashed apart on its hinges."
"Whoa. Sore loser, I guess."
Luna gave a disapproving look at Daring, who quickly apologized. Moonbeam had been her student after all.
"I found her outside in the garden. She had reduced the entire place to charred black cinders, and now sat under the charred remains of an oak tree." Luna continued.
"What did you do?"
"I told her that I was like her. And I am. I know what intoxicating power the Dark Arts is able to grant, and Moonbeam at the time, had only barely scratched the surface of what she was capable of. We were alike in so many ways, I asked her to become my student. She accepted."
Daring's eyes grew wide. "What did you teach her?"
"I taught her of the darkness within myself. How I had embraced what I am, and how I learned to harness the Dark to give me strength. To give me power, far beyond that of what magic could give. But at the same time, I taught her to control it. To never lose herself to the darkness or its seductive lure, lest she lose herself completely."
Luna looked out and gazed at the moon longingly. "The moon was our catalyst. We shared it in everything, even our names showed its bond to us. From it, we saw the darkness in the world, and harnessed it for our own. In time, Moonbeam became more powerful than she ever could have."
Daring listened intently as Luna lowered her head sadly. "But...one day she changed. She wanted more, to explore just how deep the hole went. She wanted to let go of herself completely, and learn everything. She devoted herself to the Dark Arts completely."
Princess Luna suddenly turned and looked at Daring with wide teary eyes. "You must understand, I tried to stop her. To warn her of what she was becoming! But, she insisted on learning more about the Dark Arts.
"About The Abyss."
At those words, Daring sprang to her feet. "The Abyss?? My friend Dr. Quill-Pen said something about Moonbeam and The Abyss! Please, Princess Luna, can you tell me what it is? Quill seemed almost...scared to even say anything about it." Daring explained, remembering how hesitant Quill had been to even explain anything to Daring about it. What could it possibly be? And why was everyone so scared of it?
Luna looked at Daring with great concern in her eyes. "He was right to be scared Daring. The Abyss Of Despair, is...something that many are unable to properly describe. It is not of our world, nor of our capacity to understand."
Luna looked passed Daring as if she saw something in her field of vision that Daring could not. "It is a pitch black hole in the world, that is simply unending in its reach into the deepest depths imaginable. It is an unwelcome anomaly on the edge of understanding and fear. I have encountered those touched by it before. How it twisted and warped their minds and bodies into...something unspeakable."
Daring was hesitant to ask about The Abyss anymore, as Luna seemed genuinely scared to even say any more about it. But she now had the full name of it: "The Abyss Of Despair." Sounded friendly.
Daring had more questions for Luna. "What does Moonbeam want with The Black Magic Of Atlantis, anyway?"
Luna turned around and examined the books on her shelf, lost in thought. "I'm unsure. Perhaps she simply wants it for power, or she believes it will aid her in finding and mastering The Abyss Of Despair, believing it will help her to control it."
"And will it?" Daring asked.
Before Princess Luna could answer, another voice answered from behind Daring. "Once I reach Atlantis, I guess you'll find out."
Daring and Princess Luna turned around to see Moonbeam and her henchponies standing in the now open doorway.
The wicked mare stepped forward and smiled evilly at Daring. "If, your still alive to see it." She said coldly.
Daring Do only narrowed her eyes at Moonbeam as she chuckled to herself. "Is that a threat?" she said cooly.
"No Daring, it's not worth it." Princess Luna said, as she stepped forward and met the eyes of her former student. A great tension suddenly sliced through the room, as they looked at one another.
For a moment, Moonbeam's wicked expression softened. "Its good to see you again, Princess Luna." Moonbeam said in an almost kind voice.
But the expression was not returned as Luna only looked down at Moonbeam with disapproving, cold eyes that seemed to cut right through her. "I wish I could say the same, Moonbeam." Luna said coldly.
Moonbeam chuckled as her evil grin returned. "I'm not here to discuss the past with you, Luna. I'm here for whatever my friend here has discovered about Atlantis." Moonbeam said calmly, yet the way she said it seemed to tell Daring she did not intend to get what she wanted without a fight.
And Daring was indeed ready for a fight. She was done running. If she had to end this here and now...then she would.
Daring bravely stepped forward. "I know everything now Moonbeam." she said simply.
Moonbeam raised an eyebrow, but mocked her remark as well. "Oh do you now?"
Daring ignored her. "I know you wanted to be Celestia's student. I know that you were outmatched by that unicorn, Sunset Shimmer. She understood what the value of friendship was, and that's why-
"SHE UNDERSTOOD NOTHING!" Moonbeam screamed suddenly, her face contorting in her rage. Her horn glowed menacingly as her henchponies took a step back in fear. Moonbeam was now breathing heavily through clenched teeth. "That...imbecile had no right to even show up that day! I was the one who had studied the hardest, I was the one who had trained until daybreak, I was the one WHO SHOULD'VE BEEN CHOSEN!" Moonbeam yelled, her voice gradually getting louder and angrier.
Then her expression went almost manic. Her eyes suddenly widened and looked ahead as her pupils shrunk, and a strange smile crossed her face. "But who did she choose? Not me, the pony who demonstrated her willingness to pursue the Dark Arts for the sake of bettering herself and others. NO....she chose the happy, cheerful unicorn who believed that "Friendship Is Magic."
Moonbeam turned away. "But...that's all in the past now. I've become more powerful than either of them."
"You're not more powerful than them, Moonbeam." Daring said softly. "Celestia didn't pick you because, you didn't understand what she was really looking for that day. She wanted someone who understood her morals. Who would want to help others, and succeed alongside them. Not just for themselves."
Moonbeam looked down at the floor not saying anything. Her henchponies were now crouching to try and see her face.
Princess Luna stepped forward as well. "Moonbeam. You are an exceptionally skilled unicorn. The best I have seen in a long time, and you have so much potential." she said calmly.
Still Moonbeam said nothing as she continued to look down. Daring was curious. She didn't trust this situation for a second.
Princess Luna stepped forward still and smiled down at Moonbeam with kindness in her eyes. "You were once my student Moonbeam. I know there is some good left in your heart. All you have to do is listen to it....Please save yourself before it's too-
"SHUT UP!!"
Moonbeam suddenly unleashed a massive shock wave of dark energy from her horn, that knocked everyone in the room against the walls and shattered the windows and doors apart, as broken glass rained down from all directions.
"Don't talk to me like you know me, like you understand me! No one understands me!! That's why I have to make them understand!" Moonbeam yelled angrily. "I have nothing in my heart anymore. I abandoned all that long ago, when I decided to take matters into my own hooves and sought my own teaching." Moonbeam said seriously. "My heart is as dark as yours now." She added.
Moonbeam walked slowly towards Luna, who was recovering to her hooves gingerly."When I was your student, you were always holding me back. I wanted to pursue more! But you, you were the one that always kept me back, the one who always told me not to try this spell, or cast this incantation or study this ritual! You were always too scared to show me real power." Moonbeam spat.
Daring rolled over on her side, and touched her wing gingerly,before she reeled back as it stung to touch it. It was sprained, but she could tend to it. Once she had dealt with Moonbeam. Then as Daring stood up, she suddenly felt heat against her chest, that spread from her neck to her back, and finally her sprained wing which seemed to have been completely healed in seconds.
Amazed, Daring looked down, and sure enough, the talisman she had received from her father was now glowing with a faint gold aura.
Daring looked ahead to see Princess Luna had returned to her feet, and Moonbeam seemed more enraged then ever. She had to do something, or Luna and who knows how many guests at the gala could get hurt or worse.
Luna looked somberly at Moonbeam, as her own horn now glowed with a dark blue hue. "I don't want to fight you, Moonbeam! I was only trying to protect you back then, you have no idea how dangerous the Dark Arts can really be; It can destroy you! I've seen it happen before!"
Moonbeam wasn't listening as her eyes narrowed even more. "I'm through with hearing your excuses, Luna! Once I find the Black Magic Of Atlantis, you and everypony else will regret ever doubting me! I'll show all of you the power of The Dark Arts, and once both of you have realized your mistakes...maybe I'll consider letting you two keep ruling Equestria...maybe."
As Moonbeam laughed, Luna opened her mouth to retort, but was cut short, as Daring Do, having been unable to come up with a plan, simply sprang from her hooves and tackled Moonbeam into the wall. They both crashed into the nearby bookshelf, sending a volley of books tumbling to the floor.
As Princess Luna looked on in both shock and surprise, Daring looked at her from the ground. "Go warn everypony downstairs! I can handle this!" It wasn't the smartest plan, in fact it may be the dumbest plan Daring had had in a good while. But it was all she could come up with. At least with her talisman, she stood some chance against Moonbeam. But the other ponies at the Gala could get caught in the crossfire. She couldn't risk anything like that.
Plus, she had just had enough of Moonbeam and her cronies.
Princess Luna hesitated for a moment before she spread her wings and flew out of the room, leaving Daring and Moonbeam to square off. Moonbeam yelled angrily as she let off another dark energy blast, throwing Daring off of her. But this time Daring timed her landing and flapped her wings to cushion her fall.
"Always the hero, aren't we Daring!?" Moonbeam yelled, annoyed. Her henchponies returned to her side, ready to fight Daring.
Daring meanwhile only lightly brushed herself off and smiled. "Eh...it's what I do." she said nonchalantly.
Moonbeam narrowed her eyes at her. "GET RID OF THAT PEGASUS ONCE AND FOR ALL!" she ordered, and her henchman obliged, charging full speed at Daring.
Daring easily rolled over the back of one portly henchpony who tried to grab her, only to just barely miss being struck in the head by a dark energy bolt from Moonbeam.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Daring complained, only to just dodge out of the way of another attack. Moonbeam ignored her as she let loose a massive volley of fireballs that all zeroed in on Daring.
Unfortunately, the portly henchpony had decided to try and grab Daring again, and got in the way of the attack taking the full force of it and was sent flying into Daring, who were then both flung out the now smashed open window, and fell down into the entrance courtyard.
But just before they hit the ground, Daring unfurled her wings and caught the portly henchpony and held him aloft, as they floated just mere inches off the ground. The pony's immense weight didn't help much, as Daring struggled to hold the collar of his suit in her hooves.
Portly looked up at her in surprise. Daring only rolled her eyes. "You're welcome." Before she dropped him onto the ground and flew off. She looked back to see several large groups of ponies were now exiting the castle and waiting in the courtyard. Daring breathed a sigh of relief. Princess Luna had told them they had to evacuate. And hopefully she had told her sister about Moonbeam and her plans.
Daring hesitated to keep flying. Thinking she should return to the gala and help Luna and Celestia with Moonbeam. But then she thought that it was more important for her to get to her friends. She not only had discovered Moonbeam's true intentions,but now knew the location of Atlantis. And they had to get there as soon as they could. She had to find The Black Magic Of Atlantis and destroy it, so nopony else could ever come looking for it. Plus, Daring was very sure that the two most powerful ponies in Equestria could handle, even the likes of Moonbeam.
For Now: Atlantis was waiting for them. And Daring had every intention to make the wait worth it.