//------------------------------// // Elements of the Dark Side // Story: Maul-verse // by AntiBronyBenSwolo //------------------------------// As Maul and Rainbow Dash were tied together, with no one but two Shadowbolts and Nightmare Moon to watch over them, the former Sith Lord fell into a meditative state, where he once more spoke to his old enemy. "What a fine mess you've gotten yourself into," Kenobi teased, as Maul just stared back. "What is it, Kenobi? Make it quick," Maul snapped at Kenobi impatiently. It was clear Maul and Dash didn't have enough time until whatever it was Nightmare Moon was planning, so Kenobi decided to indeed make his message fast. "Okay, you see the silverish orbs?" Kenobi pointed out. Maul looked around and saw 6 pillars with silver orbs on the top of them. Maul nodded. "If I were to take a guess, I'd say these are what Nightmare Moon pulled into this universe after, but I don't think she has noticed," Kenobi explained, stroking his beard, while Nightmare Moon walked around Maul and Dash ignoring the orbs. Maul smirked and grinned. "Hey, who are you talking to?" The Male Shadowbolt interrogated, noticing Maul talking to someone, though no one was there. "Didn't your master ever teach you not to poke your snout in other people's business?" Maul taunted, evoking the Shadowbolt's wrath, causing him to strike Maul on the head. "Night Streak, we don't have time for this." The female Shadowbolt ordered, while the male stood down and continued guarding. "So, your name is Night Streak?" Maul asked his captor, hoping to get some information on him. "Why does it matter to you?" Night Streak asked, glaring at Maul with his moon yellow eyes. "I just wanted to ask you. Has no one told you of the potential you carry? I mean, you held yourself well back there when you saved your friend, and I'm most pleased by your anger, and yet your gifts are squandered by being Nightmare Moon's servant." Maul explained to Night Streak. "And you want to know why?" Night Streak snarled at the Dark Sider. Maul nodded and snarled back. "Allow me, Night Streak. You and Shooting Star go on the lookout," Nightmare Moon ordered, as the two Shadowbolts bowed and guarded the palace's entrance. "So? I'm waiting," Maul taunted. Even in bonds, Nightmare Moon kind of felt intimidated by the former Sith Lord. "I found these three when I first got down from the Moon. Not only did they have the courage to face me, but they faced me personally just to pledge their allegiance to me," Nightmare Moon explained to her prisoners. "Sounds like blind loyalty to me. I'm not sure I would condone it," Rainbow Dash said, trying to imitate Maul's snarls to intimidate Nightmare Moon, but failing to do so. "And now these three are my Shadowbolts, my personal army. Sure it may be small, but over time, I will grow it," Nightmare Moon explained, conjuring lightning from her horn and electrifying Rainbow Dash and Maul. Rainbow Dash seethed in pain while Maul just chuckled at her remark. "More like two. I've already killed one of them," Maul remarked. Rainbow Dash didn't know whether to fear Nightmare Moon, or the fact she and her friends were forced to work with such a monster. Meanwhile, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy were trekking to rescue Rainbow Dash and Maul, get the Elements of Harmony. They were following the long gone shadows of Night Streak and Shooting Star. Even though they were far from sight, they still had hope that they weren't too late. Little did they know, they were being followed. The third Shadowbolt, the one Maul tossed from the cliff, had been following Twilight and her friends. Twilight, followed by everyone else turned around and found the third pegasus battered and beaten after surviving an impossible fall. Everyone fell silent for what they should do to him. "Are we gonna nurse him back to health?" Fluttershy asked. "Why should we? He tried to help kidnap Rainbow Dash," Applejack objected. "How did he even survive the fall?" Rarity asked out of curiosity. "Besides, Twilight, I think he could lead us to Nightmare Moon. I don't know about you, but I think we might have taken a wrong turn," Pinkie Pie explained. Twilight felt really stupid now. They might have taken a wrong turn and just not notice it. Besides, Fluttershy's itching to help the poor thing, so it's best to help him out at least. So, they might as well. "Where...where am I?" The Shadowbolt said weakly. Fluttershy had a makeshift rag and placed it on where the Shadowbolt was very injured. "Where you've been lying down for the past 5 minutes. You've been following us." Twilight explained, as Twilight had a rag herself and dabbed it on the pains along with Fluttershy. "Oh. Yes. Thank you for this by the way," The hurt Pegasus said, before wincing in pain after an injured part of him was dabbed by a rag. "Hold still please," Fluttershy said, as she continued dabbing him with the rag. "Who are you by the way?" Applejack asked him. "My name is Light Gazer," The Shadowbolt said, who was starting to feel better but not by much. "How did you survive that fall anyway?" Rarity continued to ask. "I caught on to a ledge and I climbed back up the cliff. When I got back up, I saw you walking away and I decided to follow you. I couldn't fly up the cliff because my wings were rammed into the cliff and now my wing bones are broken." Light Gazer explained. "You and me both," Fluttershy giggled. Light Gazer smiled and stood back up. "Alright, I reckon you're either gonna leave Nightmare Moon and join us, or you're gonna take us, prisoner?" Applejack asked Light Gazer, tending to his broken wings, which Fluttershy kindly bandaged up. "I actually don't know which one to go for, to be honest." Light Gazer said. He never thought he would actually catch up to them that far away. Then again, he never thought he would survive the fall. "How about both?" Pinkie Pie asked, gaining everypony's attention. "That idea..." Light Gazer pondered "...is actually kind of brilliant," Twilight Sparkle finished smiled. Light Gazer smiled back and decided to lead them back to Nightmare Moon, in the guise of their captor. Meanwhile, back at the castle, Maul meditated on the Dark Side, calculating his next move. Soon enough though, Maul would get another visit from his old friend. "Still bound in ropes I take it?" Obi-Wan asked Maul, almost taunting him. "I think you need your eyes checked, Kenobi." Maul retorted back at his rival. "Says the one who's seeing things," Kenobi joked once more. Maul snarled because Obi-Wan was right about it after all. "Now listen, from what we can both gather, there are six Elements of Harmony here. However, I...sensed something. I wouldn't condone using them, but I feel like you would use them anyways," Obi-Wan explained, grabbing Maul's attention. "There are four more elements. Elements of the Dark Side. I can't necessarily see them, but I can feel their call to you." Kenobi said, expressing his worry for Maul. Maul focused on the Dark Side, and sure enough, he could feel the Element's call as well. "How do you expect me to retrieve them?" Maul asked. Obi-Wan dissipated before Maul's eyes, leaving Maul with finding out how to get them himself. Fortunately, for the former sith, an advantage may be found. "Your Majesty, I've captured the other five ponies," the third Shadowbolt bellowed, storming in with Twilight and the rest of her friends all tied up. Maul was shook with disappointment and confusion. Did he really fail to kill the Shadowbolt? And could this be his ticket out of his binds?