//------------------------------// // 1. A New Group-Part 1 // Story: Rejected Heroes // by Cobalt Bristle //------------------------------// Onyx woke up to a pony shaking him furiously. As he woke up, the first thing he saw was a white mare looking down at him. The pony had a look of concern in her eyes, and it reminded Onyx of Platinum. "You all right there?" The pony, evidently a mare, asked. The pony was rather different from what Onyx had seen, and he had seen a lot. From the look of her expression, she had a genuine concern for Onyx. Her mane and tail were both black with turquoise on the tips. Her cutie mark was some sort of red heart with a pentagon on it. She seemed to be wearing some sort of armor, Onyx thought it may be enchanted. The detail that most caught Onyx's eye was the fact that she didn't seem to be using her magic. "I..I don't know. I was fighting shades, then there was this explosion and...." Onyx trailed off, lost in thought. "A shade? Isn't that like a shadow?" The mare inquired, snapping Onyx out of his thoughts. "A shade? It's a pony that's been, well, possessed. They fight to eliminate mortals." Onyx explained. The two ponies sat in silence for a few moments before the mare spoke up again. "So, what's your name? I'm Crystal Quartz." "I'm Onyx Storm," Onyx replied. Crystal picked up a smithing hammer next to her, using her mouth instead of her magic. "So, why don't you use you magic?" Onyx asked, and seemed to have an immediate effect on the pony. "I was born without it," Crystal replied, a twinge of anger seeping through her calm voice. "So, what are we going to do about what's happening. With these shades you mentioned earlier," Crystal asked, her voice returned to normal. "The only way to defeat a shade is by hitting them in the heart. Without help, I'm not sure we can take them on alone. Especially since I can't find Brave...." Onyx's voice failed to work when he realized that Brave wasn't in great shape the last time he saw him. "Was he with you when you heard the explosion?" Crystal asked. "No, him and Solus were trying to defend against one of the ponies in my old group when they attacked. I lost sight of them then," Onyx explained, not wanting to admit what could've happened to Brave and Solus. "How many ponies were in your group?" Crystal asked, causing Onyx to be a little cautious. "Seven," Onyx replied hesitantly. "Were they hurt?" Again these questions made Onyx uncomfortable. "Two were. Brave and Flawless," Onyx answered, some irritation seeping through into his voice. "That explains what drew me here. I was actually glad to see that you were still alive," Crystal told him. "You mean Brave's...." Onyx couldn't bring himself to say it. "Yes, as well as the body of another stallion. Most likely Flawless. Your other friends may still be alive," Crystal attempted to comfort him, but Onyx was in a state of shock. * * * A figure stood in the forest surrounding the sanctuary and looked at Onyx. It pulled out a green amulet and took a look behind it, seeing the tied up pony it had captured earlier. The figure stepped further into the light, revealing it was some kind of pony. It was impossible to distinguish what the pony's natural coat color was, as it was now a dark gray, but the mane and tail had a slight silver tint. It then put a hoof over the amulet, causing it glow and show an image of an all too familiar shade: Dark Storm. "Dark, it's worse than you suspected. Your son lived, and is not the only one. Something happened out there. It could've been from a unicorn, but it looks unlikely. I think Princess Sunset is finally trying to fight against us." After giving the report, the amulet in front of the figure fluctuated between light and dark green as Dark replied back. "Dark is not worried about a small uprising. You should not concern yourself with these minor issues Quantum," Dark scolded the shade, the normal echoey voice even more unsettling when mixed with third person. "Of course Dark. What should I do with the Guardian?" The shade asked Dark, motioning to the tied up pony. "Dark would rather you kill him now, but Dark's sister's would wish him to be taken to our headquarters," Dark replied. "It shall be done." With that, the shade turned off the communication with Dark. "You'll never succeed you damn shades. I've gotten out of worse than this," The pony who was tied up shouted at the shade. Its voice and composure identified it as a stallion. "You can stop with the cliches. That rope will hold you. It has held Guardians before, and it will continue to hold them after you're taken back to headquarters." After saying that, it only seemed to make the imprisoned pony angrier. "You succeeded in taking out Brave, but without the rest of us dead, you will be stopped," the pony's crimson eyes seemed to catch fire when he spoke. "You think it's that easy? I'm one of Dark's chief lieutenants. I could take you out with one hoof behind my back," the shade taunted, not noticing the prisoner's horn light up. "You have a flawless plan, I'll give you that. You only missed one detail," the prisoner jeered. "And what's that?" The shade asked, skeptically. "Never leave a unicorn's magic undetained." With that, the prisoner teleported away from the shade, and to a close ally of his. When he teleported to the Canterlot Castle, it took more of his energy than he would've expected. The last thing he managed to utter before falling unconscious was: "Princess..." * * * "What should we do? It's not like we can just go to the princess and ask her to help us fight shades. Any ideas Onyx?" Crystal asked him, still concerned for his sanity. "Actually, yes. I'm not sure you'll like it though," Onyx told her, cautiously. "Well, what is it?" Crystal pried. "We need to find a new group to help us combat the shades," Onyx told her, causing Crystal to chuckle a bit. "I don't know why I wouldn't like help, but we do need it," Crystal replied. "Then we better get to it. I'm not sure how long it'll take." With that, Onyx started walking towards the old sanctuary. "Uh, Onyx? Where are you going?" Crystal asked, through the hammer in her mouth. "I wonder.... The shades had to go somewhere. So what if they just retreated?" Onyx thought out loud. "Onyx? What are you suggesting?" Crystal inquired. "Nothing. I was just thinking. Anyway, off to find some help, and I think I know where to look," Onyx said, his voice starting to falter when he saw something he had never expected to see again. There, in front of him, was the much thinner and much frailer Blazing Storm.