//------------------------------//
// Sacrifice 
// Story: Darkness Returns 
// by BronyNathan 
//------------------------------//

	Woodwind watched as Caltroth stood and faced his attackers head on, laughing as the blast of rainbow light hit him square in the chest. 
"Is that all you can muster?!" He yelled amused by their feeble attempts. 
"Come on girls!" Twilight yelled, "More power! We need more power!"
The girls tried with all their might, but Fluttershy couldn't concentrate. She was staring at Squeaks corpse, tears rimming her eyes once more.
Woodwind looked over at them. He was in awe at their true potential, but he noticed Fluttershy not using her power. He called out to her
"Fluttershy! Focus! You need to do this! For Squeaks!" he yelled, hoping she heard. 
She looked at his battered bruised form laying on the ground. "B-but I..." she began to stammer but Woodwind cut her off.
"I know! I know how you feel! I know Squeak's death hurts, but if I can do it, you can do it!" He smiled at her, but began to tear. 
"I love you, Fluttershy. Always remember that. Use that to draw your strength from." he said as he stood to face down Caltroth. 
Caltroth was unaware that he had placed himself directly in front of the gaping portal. Woodwind rushed and tackled the great beast-
Right into it.
Fluttershy screamed to him and the others were too stunned to continue the Elements spell, and they fell to the ground unceremoniously. Cole rushed for them and dove to the portal as they fell through. 
Woodwind felt the portal sucking him in, the demon spawns within tugging at him, wanting him. Caltroth hung onto his hind legs as Cole held onto his forelegs. Woodwind stared up at him imploringly. 
Cole had to let him go! Caltroth was dug in tightly into his legs and he'd never get free. He yelled to him over the roar of the portal. "Cole! You have to let go!" 
Cole looked into Woodwinds eyes. They still had that glint of honor and bravery they always had back when he was human. Cole looked away, unable to meet his gaze anymore. "No! You have a wife, children, and kid on the way! I'm not letting go no matter what!" he yelled, grabbing tighter onto his hooves. 
Woodwind smiled at him, "It's out of your hands marine!" 
He winked and snapped his left hoof free. "Please no!" Cole yelled, trying to grab it back. 
"Semper Fi." Woodwind said wrenching his other hoof free. 
Woodwind and Caltroth plummeted into the depths of Tartarus. Cole yelled his name reaching in for him, but it was too late. 
Woodwind let the creatures grab and tear at his flesh, Caltroth fought them the entire way down, and let out screams of terror.
Woodwind began to feel time and space warp around him. He no longer felt the stings of the monsters claws, or the screams of the damned. 
He felt nothing but space.

Cole was shot back as Woodwind pushed his hands away. He stumbled back to the portal in time to see Woodwind plummeting into the depths, creatures clawing at his flesh the entire way down. 
"No!" He screamed, reaching for the dead air. He was again launched back as the portal collapsed in on itself. 
The others flew over to Cole, who was digging frantically at the ground. He looked to Fluttershy who was unable to cry anymore. 
How could she still be on her feet after losing both her daughter AND husband. She was braver than she appeared. Braver than anyone else by his standards. 
The lumbering magical beast now stood beside them. "You may now save the young one." He bellowed, levitating her body towards them. 
Cole stood up, looking over all of them. "I'm sorry. I couldn't save him, I couldn't bring him back to you. I couldn't give you all the fairy tale ending you desperately needed after today." 
He went to Fluttershy, who flinched as he putt his hands on her shoulder. 
"But I can atone for some of my sins against you all. The life of a damned soul, to give life to an innocent." He stared into the empty eyes of Squeak, then up into the ghostly Alicorns.
"I'm ready..." He said.
The Alicorn nodded, and began his spell. 
Twilight and the others had been so quiet all night. Even the energetic Pinkie Pie was as silent as the grave. 
They all huddled around Fluttershy as she watched her baby girl lift off the ground and spiral around Cole like a tornado. 
"Hey, Fluttershy. You get your Squeak back." Rainbow said rubbing her hoof across her back. "Aren't you happy?" 
"Yea!" AppleJack said, putting on a brave face for the sheepish mare. "You and Squeak will be together again real soon." 
Fluttershy sighed, and closed her eyes.
Pinkie Pie, who put a hoof on her so gently, an ant would probably barely feel it chimed in. 
"I-I know you've heard all this Fluttershy, but... but..." Pinkie Pie began to tear up, "I'm so glad we're able to bring Squeak back. But... Woody..." 
Fluttershy looked to all her friends. The most important ponies in her life always there for her in her time of need. But now it was just her and the foals. 
She took a deep breath, thinking about him.
He sacrificed himself to save them all and she knew that he'd do it again. That darn stallion of hers. 
She smiled at the thoughts of that brave fool, never thinking about himself.
"Fluttershy, dear, If you need anything, come to me, alright?" Rarity said stepping forward. Fluttershy nodded, still not able to speak. 
The ghostly Alicorn set both bodies on the ground, neither moving. The ponies gathered around them.
"Well, did it work?" Rainbow asked puzzled. Twilight went to check on Coal. 
But as she approached, he disappeared like dust caught in a breeze. Only his cloak and clothing remained.
She went to Squeak and put her ear to her mouth. 
She jumped back as the filly began to cough, inhaling deeply. 
Fluttershy bounded and cradled her precious little filly in her arms. 
"Mommy? What happened?" She said weakly, sitting herself up. 
"It's ok." Fluttershy said sobbing for joy, "You're safe. It's ok."
The ghostly Alicorn smiled. Or at least what they thought was a smile. "I take my leave. Live long and happy lives."
With that he blew away into the wind, giving a final nod.
The others watched as he faded, then went over and joyfully welcomed Squeak back, giving her mane tussles and heartfelt hugs and kisses. She smiled at them all, but realized something was wrong...
"Wheres daddy?" She asked nervously. 
Everypony's face sunk. How could they tell her what had happened? How could they tell her her father was gone to save her? 
No pony was brave enough to step forward and say what needed to be said,except for one.
Fluttershy.
"Squeak, daddy is..." She tried to say it but the words evaporated off her tongue. "He's..." 
She couldn't say it. She tried to be brave for her, but no matter what, she'd always be a scardy pony. Even though after all these years she had been with him, how he taught her to trust her feelings and always be the best she knew she could be. 
But lessons don't help when your child asks where her father is. 
But Squeak put two and two together. She was only five, but she was smarter than pony's gave her. 
"Daddy's dead. Isn't he?"
Everyones heart sank as they all huddled around Fluttershy and Squeak, embracing the two tightly.