//------------------------------//
// The Impending Shadows 
// Story: The Northern Sky 
// by DashTillDawn 
//------------------------------//

Another boring train ride later led us back to Ponyville. I had the feeling of being watched the whole way there, but never managed to prove it. My guess was that the lone mare in the back of the car was staring at me, but she would always be looking out the window when I checked, making sure to avoid eye contact.
Getting off of the train, I immediately began scanning nearby ponies. I didn't know what coat color, mane color, or mane style I was looking for, but I searched nonetheless. I imagined that the earth pony we were looking for would ultimately be on the lookout for us, as well. They had no clue if we were hunting them or helping them, so we would need to be cautious. Thousands of years could either sharpen or dull the senses, and if this pony was special in some way, it would likely be the former.
We were going to get the other five of the Elements, but something stopped me. I pulled North aside and shared thoughts with him.
"If these ponies are from your time, what are the odds that you might recognize them?"
"Pretty slim. If somepony catches my eye, I'll tell you, but I doubt that'll happen."
"What if you took off that coat? Maybe they'll recognize you."
He was hesitant at first, but then slowly pulled off his grey coat- the same one we first found him in. I had already told him that he didn't need to wear it anymore, but he was adamant that he didn't reveal his wings. He wanted to build a life for himself, and we wanted ponies to like him for who he was, not by his wings and horn. Sometimes he almost seemed ashamed of being an alicorn, but I was afraid to press the subject. He was still dealing with the life he lost, and it was a frail topic for him.
While I looked through the ponies around me, I caught one staring at us through a store window. We were being watched, and it was clear that this stallion wasn't the only one. I tapped North and nodded to the shop. He glanced over, then nodded back at me. He saw it too. Luckily, they were only watching. I prayed that it would stay that way. We would have to be looking out for red eyes, as that seemed to be the only identifiable trait.
We made it to Twilight's castle without any problems. Most ponies didn't even notice North, which was fortunate. It would be nice to not draw more attention than necessary. There wasn't enough time to deal with distractions like that.
Spike greeted us at the door, and did a double take on North. It was the first time he had seen him without that old grey coat, and he was understandably taken aback by the sudden change.
"N-North, y-you're an alicorn now?!"
"He's been an alicorn, Spike." Twilight told him.
"And I'm just now finding out? Why am I always the last one to hear about things like this?" He mumbled.
"I'll take you flying later if you cheer up." North offered.
"I don't know. I got my fair share of airtime during our 'dust-up' with a certain pony." He glanced at me, trying his hardest not to offend me, while I tried to not take offence. We both failed.
"So that's a no...?" North trailed.
"I'll think about it."
We headed for our usual gathering place, in the map room. Instead of getting each of the other five individually, Twilight had Spike send a letter to them, and we waited for their arrival. It didn't take long for them to show up. First came Applejack, followed by Fluttershy. Rarity came next, with Pinkie Pie on her tail. We waited another full hour for Rainbow Dash, but she didn't show. We asked around, but nopony knew where she was. When another hour went by, and we still got no word, worry began to set in.
Eventually we decided to try sending a second letter. When Spike sent it with his green flames, we expected it to go to Rainbow Dash. Instead, it appeared a few seconds later, and fell to the floor.
"Maybe it's her response?" I suggested.
No such luck. We rolled open the scroll shaped letter, and saw the same words we had written minutes before.
"Why would it return?" North asked.
"For some reason or another, we can't reach Rainbow Dash right now." Twilight explained.
"Any idea what that reason might be?"
"No, but I'm certain that whatever it is, it can't be good."





Because only a set few of us could actually reach Rainbow's floating house of clouds, we had several ponies stay at the castle. Personally, I didn't like the idea of splitting up, but Twilight had taken authority, and I tried to respect that.
Twilight and I had gone over to Rainbow Dash's house in hopes of getting some answers. Starlight had wanted to come with me, but Twilight didn't want anypony without wings for sake of time. Strangely, Fluttershy had stayed back as well. She had wings, but wasn't very keen on using them unless she had to. I had meant to ask about it, but she was still very hesitant around me, as I was a newcomer, and she was still getting to know me. What I had learned about her was that she was kind but coy. She was the most polite and submissive pony I had ever met, which led me to wonder how she ever managed to face all of the dangers I've heard of.
"North." Twilight called over.
"What?" I asked, but got no answer. Instead, Twilight put her hoof to her mouth, indicating to be quiet. She then pointed to the front door of the cloud palace we were nearing. I studied the door, trying to figure out what she meant. I looked closer and saw that it had been cracked open slightly. I wouldn't have found this suspicious, but it closed just as I tried to see past the opening. Whoever was there, it was evident that they knew we were coming, and didn't seem too happy about it.
We landed on the front stoop, and Twilight raised her hoof to knock. When no answer came, she tried again.
"Rainbow Dash?" Still no response. We turned to leave, but a sound echoed from right on the other side of the door. Fearing that Rainbow was in trouble, I lowered my horn to the door's locking mechanism. My horn lit green, and the lock did the same as I cast an old lock picking spell I head learned from my troublemaking brother when we were younger. The door opened, and we were face-to-face with Rainbow Dash.
"RD!" Twilight cried in relief, but her smile quickly fell away when she stared into her friend's face. Her usual ruby-red eyes were now a deeper blood-red.
"You can't stop the inevitable." Rainbow growled, before launching off her hind legs. She darted at me, and I had no time to react. She tackled me off the cloud, and unfurled her wings. While I tried to catch myself, she bolted away. Once I caught myself, I flew back to Twilight, who met me halfway.
"You okay?" She asked.
"A little shaken up, but otherwise uninjured. What do we do now?"
"We go after her."
"I would ask how you planned on catching her, but I'm betting you've already got a plan by your tone."
"Good bet."
"Well...?" I trailed, waiting for her to continue.
"Ever since the whole Midnight incident, I've been working on a way to expel the Darkness from the pony it's controlling. If you can hold her still, we can see if it works."
"How do you plan on making that happen?"





I could see a quickly approaching blue dot in the sky, which was my queue to get ready.
"She's coming." I called to Twilight, tucked in an alley across the street. She nodded back, and I tucked myself behind a building. Rainbow Dash had been soaring around Ponyville, and was about to fly right over me. The plan was for me to fly up and grab her, so Twilight could cast her spell. When has anything ever gone according to plan?
When Rainbow was about a building away, I spread my wings, and sprinted to intercept her. Because I was obscured by the buildings, Rainbow didn't see me until it was too late. I wrapped my forelegs around her midsection, and held her tight. She tried to use her wings to escape, but I trapped them between our bodies so she couldn't use them.
"Let go of me!" She screamed, while Twilight emerged from her hiding place, and sent a ball of purple light in our direction. Just as it was about to hit, Rainbow thrashed violently, moving us away from it. She then raised her right hind leg, and brought it down on my upper thigh. The pain loosened my grip, allowing her wings to slide out. She bolted away, with me still in tow.
There was one thing Rainbow Dash hadn't accounted for when she tried to make her escape: I was also a strong flier. I used my own wings to slow us down, and Twilight tried again. Rainbow was caught off guard by just how strong I was, and momentarily paused to plan out her next move. Thought it lasted only seconds, that brief moment of hesitation was her downfall. Just as she made to retry her escape, Twilight's second attempt made it's mark.
Rainbow Dash seized, before going limp. If I hadn't been holding her, she would have fallen. I brought her down to a waiting Twilight, who was both happy her plan worked, and concerned for her friend.
"Will she be alright?" I asked Twilight as I laid Rainbow on her side.
"I... I'm not sure." She admitted. "But it was our only shot."
"If anypony could make a spell right, it would be you." I reassured her. Or Starlight. I added in my thoughts, not wanting to discourage her at all. Twilight gave me an uncertain smile, and hoisted her friend up with a purple glow, intent on carrying her back.
"I can help." I offered.
"No thanks." Twilight turned down my offer, but then almost dropped her friend. I half enveloped Rainbow with my magic as well, and took some of the load. Twilight seemed unsatisfied by he need for help, but reluctantly allowed me to assist her.
"Thank you." She mumbled.
We walked back in silence. When we pushed through the castle doors, our payload was just starting to awaken.
"Ugh... Wha- what happened? How'd I get to the castle?" She groaned.
"It's a bit of a story." I stated.
"We'll fill you in once you're laying down. You need rest." Twilight added.
"You're tellin' me." Rainbow moaned jokingly. "Agh, my head is killing me."





The eight of us had gathered around the bed that now contained Rainbow Dash. Twilight and North had carried her in like she was injured, but she was obviously beginning to feel better. She sat up in bed, laughing at the story Twilight was telling about how she kicked North's flank, both literally and figuratively. North met my eyes, and used his hoof to motion for me to follow him. While everypony gathered around Rainbow, we ducked out of the room.
"Did you need something?" I asked once I stepped through the doorway.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. This is my first chance to talk to you since we left to get Rainbow."
"I'm fine, but I get the feeling you have something else you need to say." I said.
"I do. The others, they don't seem to realize what this means." He stated.
"What are you talking about?"
"Rainbow Dash. If this Darkness thing can take control of somepony like Rainbow, what's to say that it won't do the same to one of us?" 
...
"I need you to make me a promise." He continued.
"What's that?"
"If that happens to me, you can't hold back. If you have to choose between me or beating this thing, you can't pick me. Do you understand?"
...
"Starlight?"
I had tears in my eyes. I didn't know what to say. Not knowing what else to do, North hugged me. Minutes passed, and he simply held me in his embrace.
...
"You have to promise me." He whispered to me. Though I said nothing, the twitch of my ear gave away that I had heard him. Tears streaked down my face. Somehow, I knew that the time would come when I had to make that decision. I hated it, but it was inevitable.
...
"I promise."