//------------------------------//
// Dimming The Lights 
// Story: One Bolt, Many Questions 
// by Boltsinger 
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The morning in Vanhoover was a dingy grey. An overnight rainstorm had been scheduled, and it left the morning air a little too thick for the liking of the mare waking up. Her coat was roughly the same color as the current sky, with an upturned nose, emerald green eyes, and a deliberately messed up mane that colored from white to black as it made its way from her head and neck. She was annoyed by the sight of the clouds, but went on with her morning regardless. Now if only she could find that husband of hers.
“Brightling!” she called out, walking into the hallway. “Where are you?!” She searched through the house, finding no sign of the yellow pony anywhere. “Let me guess… at the farm again?” She groaned, heading for the kitchen and making a simple breakfast. As she finished her meal, the front door opened. “Finally! Where have you been?”
“Oh, good morning, Sparks.” the yellow stallion replied. His coat seemed brighter than she was used to as he gave her a kiss on the cheek, sitting at the table with her. "I was having breakfast with Sweet. We were going over some ideas for the farm so they can improve things around there.”
“How much is it getting you?” the mare wondered, resting her head on her hoof.
Brightling laughed at the question like it was a joke. “It’s getting the farm working. Plus it was good to see a friend.”
Sparks’ face soured, getting up and pouring herself a cup of tea. “I see… So how is work going?”
Brightling puffed out his chest, putting his wing-fists at his sides. “I made manager by streamlining things at the store!”
Sparks examined her husband, noticing something different about him. “When did you get so… bright, Brightling?”
“I don’t know…” he started, puzzling for a bit. “It probably started after I met those fillies from Ponyville. Why?”
The Unicorn scowled. “Ponyville, huh?” she spat. “And why did we get visitors from Ponyville?” The stallion leaned against the table, telling her about the time he met the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the Earth Pony named Big Mac. Sparks’ eyes narrowed as the details entered her comprehension. “So they just nobly came to town just to tell you how to live your life? They just showed up out of nowhere to say ‘your Cutie Mark is broken, now here’s how you fix it’? That sounds preposterous!”
Brightling facehoofed. “Just how aware are you of current events, dear? You’ve been to the Castle of Friendship and seen the map! You can’t deny that the magic is real!”
“I’m perfectly aware of current events, darling.” she sneered, slamming her hoof on the table. “But that doesn’t make it any less ridiculous. Ponyville is a backwater town where all anypony does is try to make friends and do pointless things with them! And those mares that your so-called brother likes so much are the worst of the bunch!”
“Well, you don’t have to like them.” he informed her, standing up. “But you can’t just deny that they do what they do. You’re a Unicorn. It’s impossible for you to deny magic.” he walked to the front door, opening it again. “I’m going to go to work. We can talk about this more when I get home, okay?”
Sparks entered the living room, opening her mouth to speak as the slamming door stifled her. She stood there in silence, utterly befuddled. “He didn’t listen to me… How could he not have listened to me? He’s mine!” She scoffed, floating her saddlebag over and beginning to fill it with essentials. She opened a nearby book, looking at it intently. The page showed an image of an amulet that featured a diamond-shaped gem with a sinister Alicorn motif. “My talents have been failing too much lately… Can’t have that happen… But...Mother always told me that drastic measures need to be taken sometimes…” She closed the book and stuffed it into her bag, walking out the door in her slow but deliberate steps.





Sparks made her way through her least favorite town. She tracked down a merchant who had sold the item she sought to some blue mare that took it to Ponyville. She looked around the town, showing the image from the book to everypony she passed. One name kept popping up. Some Zebra that went by the name of Zecora was supposed to have kept it hidden.
“I guess I’ll be paying this ‘Zecora’ a visit... “ She told herself as she passed some familiar mares. As she continued down the road, she felt a glare coming from behind. She decided to pay it no mind. Alicorn or not, that pony wasn’t worth the effort. Besides, once she got what she wanted, not even Princess Celestia would be able to say no to her.
She came upon a hut in the depths of the Everfree Forest, smiling at how quaint and simple it looked. She knocked on the door, her slow rhythm permeating the abode. “Yes? Who comes knocking this hour?” a deep accented voice began. The door opened to reveal the Zebra in question. “And what in Equestria has you looking so sour?”
Sparks sauntered past her, looking around the strange room. “You’re this… Zecora… that the ponies in town talk about, yes?”
Zecora walked over to her cauldron, facing the intruding Unicorn. “I believe that fact is obvious to see. But what business has you looking for me?”
“It’s quite simple. There’s something you have that I want. And I’m here to get it. She floated the book in front of Zecora’s muzzle, showing her the image. “How much do you want for it?”
Zecora pushed the book away, looking sternly at her guest. “If you know it’s with me, then you’ve heard the tale.” She closed the book, taking it and holding it out to the mare. “It should be clear that it’s not for sale!”
Sparks knocked the book to the floor, stepping forward. “Price is no object, you know. I’ll pay as many bits as you want! Just name your price!”
Zecora stood firm, looming over the grey pony. “Money is not a thing that I need, and perhaps you could do to forget your greed.” She pointed her hoof at the door, directing her attention outside. “If you want power, you won’t find it here! Now please, leave, in case I’m not clear!”
The Unicorn growled angrily, bringing her forehead up against the Zebra's. “I’ve had just about enough of your insufferable rhymes!” Her eyes glowed a pale green as her horn went alight. “I’m going to ask you one more time… Where is the Alicorn Amulet?!”
Zecora recoiled as Sparks’ magic extended out if her horn, touching the middle of her forehead. A voice began playing in the back of her mind. It repeatedly told her awful things, ordering her to surrender herself. She tried desperately to avoid the stinging words, but was quickly brought low. Her mind went numb as her mouth hung open. “Yes…” she started. “I will take you to it…”





The Castle of Friendship rumbled for a solid minute, shaking Twilight out of her chair and onto the floor as her flank began to glow. She shot up, looking around to see the telltale sign of the calling map, following the floating image of her Cutie Mark to the throne room. Her jaw dropped as her Cutie Mark was swiftly joined by five others just east of Ponyville.
“TWILIGHT!” five voices called as the front door swung open. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash all galloped into the room, their own Cutie Marks flashing.
“Where is the map sending us?” Rainbow Dash asked, hunching over and ready to fly. The Castle shook again as the image on the map changed. In place of the whole of Equestria, the Tree of Harmony stood before them, a red aura surrounding it.
Fluttershy jumped, hiding behind Applejack. “What does that mean…?”
Twilight took a hard look at the tree, making note of the power surrounding it. “I think it means the Tree of Harmony is in danger!” She declared, turning towards the door. “Come on, girls, let’s go!”
Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow, and Applejack looked at the embodiment of Magic, nodding confidently. “Right!” They simultaneously confirmed, galloping off.
Fluttershy cowered my the map, watching her friend's take off. “I’ll just… wait here for everypony! Good luck saving the Tree of Harmony!” She put her head on the floor, covering it with her forelegs as Rainbow Dash came back in, pulling her out by the tail.





Sparks stood in a cave below the Castle of the Two Sisters, a dark smile on her face as her horn showed a red magical field. She laughed to herself as she looked at the looming crystalline tree before her. Before she put this amazing new amulet on, she was content to just leave town and bring her husband back to his senses. But now. Now that she knew what this power was like, she had bigger plans. Brightling asked if she knew about this magic, and she laughed as she thought back on his question. The mares she saw in the stained glass in Canterlot were all representatives of an Element of Harmony, and she wasn’t one of the sheeply masses. She knew where the Elements resided. If she were to mess with the Elements, she could bring those ponies under her hoof. Perhaps even all of Equestria! She was certain that her way of thinking was the correct one, and now she was ready to show that truth to everypony, whether they liked it or not! She continued her work, imagining the days ahead as black vines began to grow around the tree. The jewels situated in various locations on the branches fell out, clinking together at her hooves. She looked on them with contempt, kicking the magenta Element of Magic away.
“No! It can’t be!” a surprised voice called from behind. “Dimming Sparks! I knew I should have stopped you in town!”
Sparks turned around, seeing Twilight and her friends gathered before her. They had fierce scowls on their muzzles, Rainbow Dash hunched over as if making ready to break into a charge. “Ah, hello, my little ponies…” she callously greeted, “I was wondering if you all would catch onto what’s going on here.”
“Why are you attacking the Tree of Harmony?!” Twilight demanded. “What did it ever do to you? And why do you have that amulet?!”
“It’s connected to all of you, isn’t it?” the darkened mare lead, the black vines growing along the walls of the cave. “You all turned my husband against me! Took away my influence! This is just payback!” She glared at the Princess, extra magic swirling around her horn.
“Everypony, watch out!” The Princess cried, igniting her own horn to lift the Elements from their spot on the cave floor and bring them to their respective owners. As the jewels made contact with their bearers, glorious golden necklaces formed to hold them in place, a golden crown appearing atop Twilight’s head to house her Element. The Alicorn redirected her magic, creating a barrier in front of her as the swirling red magic around Sparks’ horn loosed six simultaneous bolts of energy, each one headed for one of the ponies in front of her.
Rainbow Dash flew past the oncoming bolt, skidding to a halt beside Sparks and snorting angrily. She dragged her hoof along the floor, wings flared, and charged. At the same time, Applejack made a mighty leap over the bolt heading for her, galloping as fast as her legs could take her in her own charge at the mare. Rarity and Fluttershy each dove behind Twilight, who expanded her shield to cover the two, while Pinkie playfully bounced over the attack, landing with a face of mock ferocity as she joined the other two in their charge.
Sparks cast her gaze between the approaching ponies, smirking as a large red shield formed around her, expanding outward to force them back, magical bolts extending out of her horn and into the foreheads of her immobile assailants. The Earth Ponies and the Pegasus fell limp, slumping over onto the ground. Twilight’s eyes widened as the aftermath of the attack cleared, quickly shifting her face to one of anger as Sparks’ eyes began to glow red with fiery magic erupting from them.
Twilight looked back at Rarity and Fluttershy. “The amulet is giving her power, but it’s warping her mind even further! Be careful!” She dispelled her shield, charging up as much magic as she could muster to launch at the mare. She lowered her head, pointing her horn at the witch, and discharged. From her horn erupted a stream of magical energy that shined in white along with her usual magenta. Sparks smirked, putting up another shield around herself and sauntering forward. “Why is keeping such a horrible influence so important to you?” Twilight asked, straining to keep up her attack.
“If you knew the truth of this world like my mother did, you would know to keep as much influence as you can get!” The Unicorn started, taking her sweet time walking through the beam.
“Your mother? What kind of pony was she?” the Princess wondered, ceasing her spell.
“My mother was the wisest pony there ever was. Others say that she changed when she got out of the hospital, but I believe it was for the better.” She continued, keeping her pace. “They say she used to spread joy somehow, but when I knew her, she taught me all I needed to know about the world… Everypony for herself, the reason others even attempt to be ‘friendly’... How the only thing that matters is to satisfy our own needs!”
Twilight looked at her foe, who looked down at her with utter disdain. “It sounds to me like your mother was replaced by a Changeling. They survived back then by disguising themselves as somepony surrounded by love and eating away at all the love they have…” She looked into Sparks’ eyes, noticing once more that they had none of the shine that other ponies had, as if the light of Harmony had left her.
Sparks scoffed, slapping the Princess with her hoof. She fell to the floor as if in slow motion, her crown flying off of her head as she landed. “It doesn’t matter. She was the one who raised me, and she was right either way…” Rarity and Fluttershy looked at the mare with a mixture of fear and rage in their eyes as she charged magic in her horn once again, sending out three simultaneous bursts of magic as everything went black.