//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2- The Spring of Hope 
// Story: Returning to Dark Water 
// by ImNoPony 
//------------------------------//

It was a perilous trek to get here. After a warmful "See You Later!" from all of her friends and a helpful map to show her the way, Starlight glimmer has made her journey across Equestria to her free therapeutic spring. A fair bit of it was traveled by train, but she still needs to trek the last bit of it on hoof through some thick woods. At certain parts, Starlight began to question is this even worth it. However, as she exits the woods and the bright sunlight enveloped her, Starlight finally found it.

Before Starlight's eyes was a beautiful oasis filled the bountiful water, gushing fountains and sparkling reflections. It was a nice little paradise where all of your worries can wash away. Washed away like the dark magic that was polluting it before.

After breathing a sigh of relief, Starlight exclaims: "Finally made it."

Since she finally made it to her destination, Starlight dropped and shake off any bags that she was carrying and prepare to dive in. But before she does so, she tried to look around to see any other ponies. She was sure that her friends said that they are trying to turn the springs into a resort. She was half expecting to see a few ponies walking about and drawing up plans. To make sure, she tried yelling out.

"HELLO! IS ANYPONY HERE!?"

However, the only response that she got was the sound of nature's breath in the wind. She waited a full minute until she decides that no pony is going to yell back to her. Starlight did have her concerns, but she then just imagines that every pony is just on a coffee break. Feeling that no pony can stop her, Starlight finally dives into the water.

After the sprung up for air, Starlight felt the initial coldness that you usually get when you dive into water. However, it soon went away and she started feeling the natural magical properties. Her body began to tingle as the healing water washes over her. Starlight then rests on a nearby rock and let the water soothes her worries away.



Meanwhile, back at Ponyville, everything seems relatively peaceful in the small calm town. The sun is shining and there is still some time left before the weather pegasi have to move the dark clouds. Things even seem calm even at the Castle of Friendship.

Inside one particular bedroom lies one purple reading comics on his bed. He was reading the latest issue of "Power Ponies" and this time Not get it from the magical comic book store. Spike was enjoying his comic until...

"Yes Humdrum! Show The Mane-iac that you aren't some useless, under appreciated or un-manly draaaagI mean pony!"

"Um, Spike"

And with the sudden sound appearing from in his room, Spike jump from his bed with surprise. He quickly gets ready and stands in attention. However, when he saw that it was Twilight by the door, Spike become slightly relaxed. "Oh! It's only you Twilight" he said. But then he notices something on her. "Hey, why are wearing a scarf?"

Like the young dragon said, Twilight was wearing a rather peculiar aqua-blue scarf. Twilight isn't known the wear scarfs, except in winter but it's nowhere near cold. To ease his worry and confusion: Twilight tells Spike: "Oh, this!? Well, I just happen to find it in a box in my closet and I just thought about putting it on. I think it was a present from Rarity or something?"

"Really!? Let me check." Spike then reads the label that was on the scarf. ""From Rarity to Twilight. Here's a lovely knitted scarf that I made to keep you warm." Yep, that's Rarity alright."

"Yeah" Twilight sighed. "And speaking of which; I've invited everyone to come over again today and I want to get everything ready for them when they arrive."

"Again? Did we just had a small party with everyone last night?"

"Yes, but that wasn't with everyone."

"Well, if that's the case, why don't you just wait until Starlight return from her..."

"Spike! Do I really need to have an excuse to hang out with all of my friends?"

Spike froze, speechless that Twilight raised her voice at him. He can't even remember the last time that she raised her voice at him like this. After a quick moment to think, Spike cautiously replies: "No... I guess not..."

"Good" Twilight responded. "And sorry for raising my voice like that. I don't know what gotten over me." She said that... even when she was in a cheery tone.

"No problem" Spike replied. "So... I guess I should get things ready then?"

But as soon Spike began making his way to the door, Twilight stopped him with her magic.

"Actually..."

"Whoa!" he screamed while he was pulled back.

After pulling Spike back, Twilight explains: "I've been thinking. You have been working for so long without any breaks or holidays."

Confused, Spike responds: "Yeah, but that's because I like doing nice things for all of you."

"Well, what kind of friend would I be if I don't reward you for your hard work?"

"A Reward!" Spike yelled with shock and excitement.

"Yes, a reward" Twilight reiterate. She then pulls out a pouch full of money and tells Spike: "Here's everything that I think you earned. Why don't you go out today and spend something nice for yourself?"

"Really! But wait!? Then who will...?"

"I'll do it" Twilight answered. "I mean, how hard is it to pour everybody a glass of water and chat around a table."

But then, as Spike was given his bits and was feeling ecstatic, something just occurred to him. He realizes that Twilight was being awfully nice to him all of sudden in giving him the money as well as practically a day off. It isn't the kindness that confuses him but that he didn't do anything worth while that would garner such a reward. And then there's the fact that she's inviting all of her friends again and only serving them "glasses of water?" Spike could tell something was up.

As Twilight was pushing Spike through his door with her magic, Spike stops and ask her: "Hang-On! Are you hiding something that you're not telling me about?"

Shocked the Spike stopped, Twilight suspiciously says: "No... " Spike then gave Twilight the suspicious eye, hoping that he could intimidate her into telling her the truth. But then she says: "It's not like were planning your birthday or anything."

"My Birthday!" Spike yelled with surprise. He then has a quick check of his calendar that was on his wall and discovers that his birthday is in two months time. "Huh! I totally forgot that my birthday is coming up."

With his suspicions all gone, Spike then willing exits the room while saying: "Hm... Maybe I will spend that day off after all. Ok then Twilight, I'll let you all have your party "and not" talk about what you all are getting me for my birthday."

Twilight then waited. Waited for Spike to go down the hall and away from the castle. Waited until Spike is far enough away so he would possibly hear her sigh and then say: "Finally". And then she began to laugh...


Laugh like an evil maniac




Meanwhile, back with Starlight, she continues to enjoy the relaxing springs. She began swimming, seeing how deep the water will go, and (since no pony is looking) practice her aquatic dance routine in the water. It was all rather fun and relaxing... but also quite lonely and boring. Starlight began regretting that she hadn't brought some of her friends along to keep her company and save her from enjoying the spring water by herself. Also, since she was told that this place is going to be a resort, she was hoping that there might be a Jacuzzi or some hot springs.

But then, as Starlight was wishing for all of this..."

"Why... Hello There!"

The sudden voice startled her. It caused her to jump and trip over into the water. As soon as she comes up for air, Starlight saw who it was. And it was... a Zebra?

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to give you a scare."

Starlight was perplexed. It was a male zebra and she never saw one before. She knows of Zecora and knows that she lives in the Everfree Forest, but he's completely different. He was standing by on the edge of the springs and waiting patiently for a response. Bashful and shy, Starlight says to him:

"Oh um... Sorry. Nice to meet you. I just thought no pony was around since no one replied to my yelling from earlier."

"My apologies for failing to respond" the zebra replied. "I was further way yonder and unable to hear, but now I'm here and see you in the clear."

Ok, Starlight then learns that the rhyming thing is a quirk for all zebra. But wait! He says he can see her clearly...

"AH!" Starlight screamed as she covered herself up quickly.

"Oh sorry, I'm didn't mean I'm seeing one's glory" the zebra guy reiterated before quickly looking away.

The moment then became too embarrassing for either horse to bear (even though both of them are technically naked) and Starlight quickly got out of the water. The zebra continues to look away, even when Starlight was drying herself with a towel. But once that was all done, they felt ok enough at look each other again.

"With that embarrassing moment out of the way, let's trade greetings. My name is Lumbay."

"Hi, my name is Starlight Glimmer. Are you the pony who's trying to make a resort here?"

"Not quite, but you are almost right."

Lumbay then walks away and silently urges Starlight to follow him. Curious on what he wants to show her, Starlight grabbed her and let Lumbay guide. He took her around the small hill that was keeping the water that Starlight was swimming in secure. On the other side, not only did Starlight see that there was much more spring water to enjoy, but there was also a small herd of zebra walking around (around 12 or 15).

Some zebra were examining the foliage and other plants that were around the springs and others were taking samples from the water. A few appeared to be comparing their results and there's always one who was lazying about and trying the spring waters for himself (only until his supervisor caught him and force him back to work). Starlight was somewhat amazed and blown away. Not only because she hadn't seen these many zebras before but also for discovering this sort of research operation.

Lumbay then explains: "Our sister, Zecora, told us about these water and still thinks there some stuff that isn't in order. We're trying to find any dark magic that is trying to hide so no pony can fall to the dark side."

"Wow" Starlight sounded. "And... have you found any?"

"No" Lumbay happily replied. "We are nearly done and we can safely say that it's safe for everyone."

"Well, that's good."

Lumbay then adds: "And we found some pools that are utmost fun."

With Lumbay's words, Starlight was successfully intrigued. She then follows him to a set of pools with nice, work steam emanating from it. They were hot springs and Starlight was surprised/happy to see them.

"Can I try them?" Starlight eagerly asked Lumbay.

Lumbay replies: "But of course my magically inclined horse."

With Lumbay's approval, Starlight wastes no time and jumps right in. She caused a huge splash and a fair amount of water getting splashed onto Lumbay. However, he wasn't mad and was happy to see that Starlight was enjoying the hot spring. And unlike the cold water that she swam in before, the hot spring felt divine as it was like a warm, relaxing bath. It was so relaxing that Starlight began imaging herself passing out (and in turn drown) since it is that good.

"So I can assume this is to your liking?" Lumbay enquired.

"Yes" Starlight replied. "Can't you see me smiling?"

Lumbay began to chuckle, amused by Starlight's joke.

However, as Lumbay was about to walk away and let Starlight enjoy the hot spring in peace, one of the other zebras quickly intercept him.

"Lumbay! You Have To Hurry!"

"Wo-Wo-Wo! What's to worry?"

Starlight, in the middle of her bath, overheard the zebra and could sense the panic in the zebra's voice. Worried, she silently listens in.

The zebra that intercepted Lumbay tells him: "One of the pools, its water is all gone!"

"Gone you say!? Perhaps it just returns underground and sank beyond?"

"That idea was sound but there more that we found. You need to follow me!"

However, before the other zebra could take Lumbay away, Starlight shouted: "Wait! let me come with you!"

Lumbay, upon seeing Starlight getting out of the pool and was looking concerned, replies: "Then come you shall, my little pony!"

"Thanks... but don't call me a little pony."



Back at Ponyville, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash had entered Twilight's castle. They had gotten word that Twilight wanted to see all of them at her castle just so they can hang out and dine. Even though a few of them found it a bit odd and slightly different to Twilight's behavior, they all shrug it off and didn't think too much about it. Eventually, everyone made it to the map room where Twilight greeted.

"Hey, guys! Take a seat."

"Don't mind if I do!" Pinkie replied as she skips into the room.

But then, as Applejack was walking past Twilight, she asks her: "Thanks for invitin' us Twilight. But I gotta ask, why did you ask us to come?"

"And why are you wearing my scarf that I made for you in spring?" Rarity added. "It was meant to keep you warm in the winter."

But Twilight replies: "Yeah, well, I saw it hanging in my closet and I felt chilly enough to put it on. I think this castle got a draft somewhere."

"Well that's not good" AJ responded. "Do you want me to try to fix that problem for ya Twilight?"

"Eh, that can wait. Just come and take a seat by the map."

Curiously, they all follow Twilight's orders. But as soon as they got near the table, they all saw glasses of water waiting for them by their seats.

"Glasses of water, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash remarked. "You don't have any other refreshments?"

But as Twilight takes her throne, she just says to them: "Oh, those are just there in case any of us gets parched."

However, Applejack still has her doubts and tells her: "Well that's kind of you Twilight, but just..." She then looks intensely at her own glass and felt a slight shiver down her spine. "Something about these doesn't feel right?"

"Yeah" Fluttershy added as she was holding her glass. "It's like this is reminding me of a bad memory and I don't want to re-live it."

Shocked, Twilight responds: "What! You guys are imagining it. When have I ever invited you guys over just to serve you spiked drinks?"

"Well, there was that time where you try to make us drink a potion when you thought we were under Discord's spell" Rainbow Dash answers.

"Water under the bridge" she responded. "Here, let me prove it to you." And then, with her magic, she grabs Pinkie Pie's glass of water and drinks it all up. After a few moments after drinking, she says: "See. Nothing happened." However, her friends still finding this somewhat suspicious and could obviously tell that Twilight is being pushy about something.

But when Twilight poured Pinkie another drink, she also gave her the most begging set of eyes that silently asking her to take it. Pinkie, not wanting to hurt anypony, shrugs and says: "Eh. What could possibly go wrong?"

But as Pinkie was about to drink the water, Applejack looks intensely into her own glass and to try and figure out why it's making her so nervous. She looks into the dark, cold water with emanating darkness that also reminding her of...

"PINKIE! DON'T DRINK IT!"

However, as soon as Applejack yelled her scream and shock everypony to the state of motionless, Twilight activated her magic. Before any of them know it, everyone was enveloped in a magical aura and unable to move. They try to struggle and get free with expected results.

"Hmff... What's going on!?" Fluttershy cried.

Applejack, with the limited movement that was given to her, made an angry look at Twilight and yells at her: "Twilight! What In Tarnation Do You Think You're Doin'!"

However, Twilight didn't respond. She just made an eerily, downright creepy, smiling expression that made the whole situation that more unsettling. Eventually, she sighs and says: "You just had to foil my ingenious plan, didn't you Applejack."

Her friends, confused, slowly put the pieces together.

Rarity exclaims: "What are you... Wait!... (looking at her glass of water) Don't tell me..."

"Were You Trying To Make Use Drink This Dark Water To Turn Us Evil!?" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"WHAT!" Fluttershy and Pinkie gasped. Sure enough. As soon as they got a second look at their glasses, they quickly recognize the evil, dark water and was even more surprised.

"No-No!" Fluttershy cried. "That Can't Be True!"

But Twilight than answers: "But yes Fluttershy, it is true. And if Applejack hadn't ruined it, you all would be evil again and we could start planning our Domination of Equestria!"

The 5 ponies saw the passion in Twilight's eyes for when she said it. They all could see the seriousness in Twilight's expression and the proudly evil passion that was radiating off of her. She totally means it when she says that she wants to take over Equestria.

Shocked to seeing Twilight like this, Dash mumbles: "But why..."

"To Become Powerful of Course!" Twilight yelled with an evil, menacing sneer. "Don't you all remember how powerful we were when we were under the dark water's influence? The Strength! The Power! The Magic! Rarity managed to go hoof to hoof with Princess Luna and we manage to sink Ponyville in total and utter chaos!"

"Wha..."

"But we can do so much now! Remember what Princess Luna said. If we all worked, no pony will be able to stop us! MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!"

As Twilight began laughing like an insane pony, all of her friends were terrified of her. They couldn't believe that their dearest friend is acting like this but they are completely at her mercy.

Fallen into denial, Fluttershy cries: "This can't be happening?"

Following suit (into denial), Pinkie says: "Hey Yeah! Somepony must have splashed some of this water onto her and making her act like this!"

"Hey yeah!" Applejack agreed.

Rarity proclaims: "There's no way that our Twilight would act like this of her own free will!" Everyone else agrees.

"Oh, you think you, do you?" Twilight remarks.

Everyone then gulped.

"It's true that somepony did give me this water and I am under its influence right now. But do you all want to know something?

I drank it... UNDER MY OWN FREE WILL!"

Everyone was then hit with an avalanche of despair. They could believe it. They couldn't believe that Twilight, of her own free will, liberty, or freedom, knowingly drink the dark water. She knows first hoof of what it will do to her and she willingly succumbs to the dark side? It was maddening and despair inducing.

At a total loss of words, Twilight began walking around and whispering in each of their ears.

"And I know you all want to do it too. You can become better than any pony (Rainbow Dash). You can spread perfection across Equestria (Rarity). You can make the ponies laugh and enjoy all of your jokes and nopony will ever feel sadness (Pinkie Pie). And we can make sure that no animal will ever be harmed while under our domain (Fluttershy)."

Twilight's words tug on their strings of their already fragile hearts. She's saying everything that they ever wanted to hear and started picturing their own little Equestrias. All of them know that it's the wrong thing to do... but since they are at evil Twilight's mercy, do they have a choice?

"So... are you all with me?"

One by one, they all made their decision.



Meanwhile, back at the springs, the zebra worker had finished leading Lumbay and Starlight to the empty pool that he mentioned. It was on the very edge of the oasis and separated from the main pool of water. The other zebras were around and they've found discarded tools, bottles and buckets and a hoof trail that leads away. And in the center of the empty pool was a few drops of water left and they all know what it is.

"Oh dear" Starlight sounded.

"It's as we feared" Lumbay added.