//------------------------------// // The Queen of the Shattered Dreams // Story: Light and Darkness – The Shadow of Midnight // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// Soon after capturing the Shaman, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, still using their dreaming cloak, were able to find a cave, where they decided to proceed with the interrogation, having him tied up with wood nature vines that could also absorb magic, preventing him from using any of his own magic. “Listen up, Shaman, this is what is going to happen” Scootaloo said. “We’re going to find that pony and bring her back.” “That’s impossible” the Shaman replied. “Oh you think that, do you?” Scootaloo said, taking of the magical stones that belonged to the Shaman. “Your little stones sure are powerful, but let’s see if they are crush-proof too.” Having said that she started to apply electricity on it, what started to cause it to crack. Despite trying to look indifferent, but, as the cracks started to appear, he clearly started to look uneasy. It was then that he said: “Wait! It was the Queen of Neverland who took her.” Scootaloo stopped and then Apple Bloom asked: “Is she dah talent thief?” The Shaman nodded with his head. “And what is she after?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I don’t know” the Shaman replied. Unsatisfied with that answer, Scootaloo started to apply electricity on the stone again. That caused the Shaman to tell: “The Queen doesn’t say why she wants the talents, only who to kidnap.” Sweetie Belle looked closely to him. After that she said: “He’s telling the truth, I can feel it.” “How do we go tah Neverland?” Apple Bloom asked. “Tell us how do ya do it?” “To go to Neverland you need the magical watch” the Shaman answered. “And I don’t have it.” “Then how did you summoned that portal?” Scootaloo asked. “The portal just opened” he replied. “Yes, Ah saw that” Apple Bloom remembered, talking about what she saw while looking for Night Glide. “Then ya jest have tah ask tah open fer us.” “The Queen wouldn’t allow it” the Shaman said. “I know you’re telling the truth” Sweetie Belle replied. “But you’re hiding something.” But it would appear he wouldn’t talk. “Well, I guess we’ll have to take him to Mirror Coat” Scootaloo said, while giving the stone she had to Sweetie Belle who was the one holding the others. “Okay, let’s get out of here quickly, before anypony comes by.” She and Sweetie Belle went to secure Shaman, so that they could go, but, as they were restraining the Shaman, he fought them off, ending up bumping Sweetie Belle into the wall of the cave in the process. Scootaloo managed to get him off of Sweetie Belle and hold him back, exclaiming: “Are you crazy?!” “Looks like we’ll have tah bring Mirror Coat over here” Apple Bloom said. “He’s not goin’ tah like it, but we don’t have a choice. Come on, gals, we need tah go outside tah summon him.” “What about him?” Scootaloo asked. “We can’t just let him here.” “This is a clos’d cave an’ he is ti’d with wood nature vines that absorb magic an’ he doesn’t have his rocks” Apple Bloom said. “Ah’m pretty sure he can’t stay fer a few moments, while we make dah call.” Despite not liking it, Scootaloo nodded and the three Crusaders stepped outside. With the Crusaders not there, the Shaman tried to find a way to get out. At that moment, his shadow stretched and then took the form of a shadow creature, but this one looked different. Instead of blue eyes it had green ones and its shapped looked even more sinister, having what appear to be a crown and wings. It was clear the fear that started to appear on the Shaman’s eyes. It then talked with a harsh and icy voice: “You did well in bringing me the fight talented to me, but why couldn’t you open the portal?” “Hook stole the watch from me” the Shaman replied. “HOW COULD YOU LET HIM DO THAT?!” the shadow creature asked. “I’m sorry” the Shaman apologized, fearful. “You’re big disappointment” the shadow creature said. “I want a new talent by tomorrow, the same one the Crusaders will be looking for. And no more mistakes.” “Yes…” the Shaman said, smiling, while getting rid of the vines that were holding him, revealing that he used the stones he had taken back from Sweetie Belle earlier. “Yes, my queen. I got my stones back. I’m ready.” And he used one of the stones to create a red smoke and disappear. Having heard the explosion, the Cutie Mark Crusaders returned to the cave, only to find it empty. “The Shaman…” Scootaloo said. “He escaped! Ah, I told you we should have kept an eye on him, Apple Bloom.” “But Ah don’t understand…” Apple Bloom said. “How did he got rid of my vines and just disappeared?” Sweetie Belle went to her dreaming cloak and then noticed the stones were gone. She then remembered how the Shaman had come to her. “The Shaman… he stole the stones back went he came onto me” she said. “Now what?” Scootaloo asked. As if answering her question, the Cutie Mark Crusaders got a new dream vision. They could see Canterlot and then Melody’s studio, followed by the talent they needed to help. He was a unicorn colt with a grayish brown coat, moderate light blue and light azure mane and moderate mulberry eyes. He was playing the piano, but it looked like he was not enjoying it, as if there was something else he wanted to play. After the vision, Apple Bloom said: “There you have your answer. We have to go to Canterlot.” So they hasted to get out of the Enchanted Forest, returning to the Pony World and then to Equestria. Once they landed on Canterlot, they made their dreaming cloaks disappear and walked towards Melody’s studio. Arriving there, they were quickly greeted by Melody. “Just look who they are” she said. “So, what brings the Cutie Mark Crusaders to my studio?” “I think you know that answer, Melody” Sweetie Belle said. “Yeah, I figured” Melody replied. “So, who is the talent you are after?” “He’s a young unicorn colt” Apple Bloom told, as they started to walk through the hall. “In our vision, we saw him playin’ dah piano, but not with… joy.” “You don’t have say anything else, Apple Bloom dear” Melody said. “I know exactly who you’re talking about. Follow me.” They advanced through the academy until they reached a certain room. Melody opened the door and they looked inside. The colt they have seen before was there, playing the piano. “That is Chrome Note.” The music that he was playing was beautiful, but it was very mechanical, lacking emotion. But there was something in that music that caught Sweetie Belle’s attention. It was feeble, however she would recognize it anywhere. “That kid really knows how to play” Scootaloo said. “I don’t know how he hasn’t earned his Cutie Mark yet. “I think I know why” Sweetie Belle said. “So you noticed” Melody said, with the young unicorn nodding to her. “Notic’d what?” Apple Bloom asked. “That kid is a prodigy” Sweetie Belle replied. “Really?” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo asked at the same time. “His Thirteenth Note is almost inaudible, but I’m sure of that” Sweetie Belle said. “The Thirteenth Note is not only tied to the act of playing or singing, but is also connected with emotion” Melody explained. “If you don’t play with passion and emotion, its true potential cannot be revealed. It’s obvious the piano is not suited for him. I’ve already told him to choose the perfect instrument, but he refuses to do it. What’s a shame, because there’s a recital this night and I’m certain he can still find the right thing to play. Perhaps you may be able to do it, now that you’re here.” “Melody!” a voice called, with it belonging to Swan Song. “We have a situation here.” “I’m coming” she said, turning then to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Well, I have to go. Good luck for your mission, dears.” Having said that, she moved away. The Cutie Mark Crusaders kept hearing Chrome Note playing until he stopped. After he did that, he sighed, but then Sweetie Belle noticed something. She saw him opening the little drawer of the piano and took what appear to be a guitar pick. “Sweetie Belle, Ah think ya’re dah one we need fer dah job” Apple Bloom said to her. “Apple Bloom is right” Scootaloo seconded. “After all, you’re both prodigies.” “Well, I can try” she replied. And she got in. Noticing her presence, Chrome Note hasted to put the pick back to the drawer and close it. “Who are you?” he asked, as Sweetie Belle approached. “My name is Sweetie Belle” she introduced herself. “You mean like the singer?” Chrome Note asked. “The one and only. And it so happens that I’ve come to visit Melody here and I heard your music. It was a well-played song.” “Thank you” Chrome Note thanked, bowing respectfully his head. “I practice a lot.” “I can see that” Sweetie Belle said. “But may I ask… why the piano? It’s quite a complex instrument for a colt of your age.” That question really made Chrome Note uncomfortable. In order to make him open up, Sweetie Belle asked: “Aren’t you a little curious about other styles of music?” Sweetie Belle asked. “You know, I figured that I would bring out the best of my music when I sang about the thing I loved the most. What about you? What’s your dream music?” “Not the piano, that’s for sure” he replied. “But my parents say it’s an important instrument and they get so happy when I play it. I just don’t want to disappoint him.” At that moment, Sweetie Belle was able to understand the root of the problem. “I’m sorry, but I have to go” Chrome Note replied, getting up. “I need to have a snack before practicing one last time before the recital.” And he headed towards the exit. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo moved away from the exit and acted normally until he had moved away. Once he did, they went to Sweetie Belle and asked: “So…” “Do you know what happens with him?” “Let’s just say his problem is the same one Gust had” Sweetie Belle replied. Later, it was time for the recital. At the auditorium of the studio, there was many ponies sitting, wanting to see what the ponies of the studio had prepared for them, with Melody presenting it. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were backstage, deciding to watch over Chrone Note. Even if they couldn’t get to him at that moment, they knew he would be the next target of the Queen of Neverland. It was then that Sweetie Belle noticed something. It was Chrome Note, who looked conflicted in staying backstage and preparing for his performance. Suddenly, he started to run away. “Oh no, girls, he’s getting away!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed to the other Crusaders. The Crusaders hasted to follow Chrome Note, but there was one point where they lost track of him. “Now what?” Scootaloo asked. “We have to use the tracking mirror” Apple Bloom said. “It’s the only way to find him.” “What if the Shaman had already kidnap her?” Scootaloo asked. “If he did it, then the tracking mirror won’t work.” Sweetie Belle closed her eyes and focused. After a few seconds, she said: “No, I can still feel his Thirteenth Note close by. He’s not far from here.” “Then we can use dah mirror” Apple Bloom concluded. “All we need is something from the kid” Scootaloo said. “And I know what” Sweetie Belle replied. They went to the piano room and Sweetie Belle opened the drawer, taking the guitar pick Chrome Note was holding before. With the pick, they were able to use the tracking mirror to locate Chrome Note. They followed the signal of the mirror into a deeper room of the academy. “He must be here” Sweetie Belle said, while keeping the mirror in her dreaming cloak, making it disappear soon after. They opened it and become astonished as they saw Chrome Note playing an electric guitar. The type of music he was playing was totally different than the one he played on the piano, but it was pure and full of emotion. Sweetie Belle could easily sense the Thirteenth Note in it. That was Chrome Note’s true musical talent. Smiling, Sweetie Belle got in an approached the young colt. “Rock and Roll?” she asked. Noticing her, Chrome Note stopped playing and asked: “How did you know where…” Sweetie Belle showed him the guitar pick, saying while giving it back to him: “Sorry, but I needed it to find you. And here I was trying to help you figure out your real instrument, but it would appear you have already done it.” “It’s the only instrument that really understands me” he told. He then used the pick to play. He played in such a way that caused some nearby instruments to levitate, vibrate and then fall. “Ups…” he said. “I think I don’t have that much control.” “Don’t worry, I also had some troubles with my Thirteenth Note” Sweetie Belle said. “But you know, I think it’s time for everypony to get to know the Rock and Roll Chrome Note.” That really motivated Chrome Note, who nodded. Together with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Chrome Note hasted to the auditorium holding the electric guitar, where his time to act was close. Arriving there, Sweetie Belle said to him: “Now go show everypony who you really are.” “Thank you, Sweetie Belle” he thanked, preparing to go to the stage. It was then that golden dust started to fall on him and Chrome Note started to feel sleepy. One of the Shaman’s stones fell in front of him and an explosion of red smoke appeared. “Pixie dust!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. The Cutie Mark Crusaders hasted to get Chrome Note before it was too late, but the smoke cleared, revealing that he was gone. “The Shaman kidnaped him” Scootaloo said. “Look fer dah Shaman, gals” Apple Bloom said. “He mest not be far.” They look around, but the Shaman appeared from his invisibility on one of the roof beams, carrying a sleepy Chrome Note. He laughed, causing the Cutie Mark Crusaders to see him. “There he is!” Scootaloo said. Using another stone, the Shaman made copies of himself appear around the Crusaders. Before all that, the girls summoned their dreaming cloaks. “Okay, there’s six of them an only three of us” Scootaloo said. “So, two for each of us?” “He wants tah divide us” Apple Bloom said. “We mest stick together.” “But in that way we’re going to give him the chance to attack” Sweetie Belle said. All the six Shamans closed in on the Crusaders and then Sweetie Belle jumped and tried to knock down one of the Shamans with a sound blast, only for that Shaman to evade it. Each of the Shamans begin to pelt the Winx with their magic stones, which either hit the floor or are deflected by the Winx protecting themselves. That is until two of the Shamans' stones managed to cause an explosion so powerful that it knocked Apple Bloom out onto the floor, defenseless. Just as the two Shamans prepared to strike Apple Bloom again, Sweetie Belle focused her magic and sent out magical vibrations that started to disrupt the Shaman's illusions. “With my magical vibrations, I can weaken your illusions” Sweetie Belle said. Now knowing where the real Shaman and Chrome Note were, Sweetie Belle jumped and kicked the Shaman, making him drop the young colt. Sweetie Belle caught him and landed. The Shaman, in midair, launched his stones, creating a big explosion. Fortunately, Sweetie Belle was able to create a barrier to protect herself. Looking the Shaman in the eyes, she asked: “Did you ever listened to the silence?” After she said that, the barried turned into a focused magic blast that hit the Shaman and caused him to hit the wall with strength. He fell on the floor and the illusions he created flickered and then disappeared. “Sweetie Belle, that was awesome!” Scootaloo exclaimed, while she and Apple Bloom congratulated the unicorn. The Shaman rose up, clearly angry at the Crusaders, but then a portal to Neverland opened behind him and it started to suck him in. He exclaimed: “No, my Queen! Not now!” And he went through the portal that soon closed. “Chrome Note” Sweetie Belle called. “Chrome Note.” And the young colt started to open his eyes. When he came to his senses, he got up and asked: “What happened?” “You fainted” Scootaloo lied. “That was probably due to the nerves… or excitement.” “What matters is that yer fine, Chrome Note” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle extended the electric guitar to Chrome Note and asked him: “Now, are you ready for your performance?” He took the guitar and the nodded, with a smile, and said: “And I know the right way to make it perfect.” When it was Chrome Note’s turn, he went to the stage, where the piano was waiting for him. With a quick look to the audience, he saw his parents. He took a deep breath and then started playing. It was a hasted and yet harmonic song. But suddenly he stopped and took the guitar. Holding his guitar pick, he started playing with all the energy and emotion he had. The sound of the guitar was amplified by the power of his Thirteenth Note. The ponies on the audience, mainly his parents, were caught by surprise by that sudden change of music. He finished playing and, after a few seconds of silence, the audience applauded her with great intensity. All that cheering caused a great joy to the young colt. The Crusaders also applauded him. Chrome Note looked to Sweetie Belle who nodded to him who nodded back to her. At that moment, a flash of light appeared on his flank and he saw that he got his Cutie Mark: a guitar with notes coming out of it. Melody appeared beside the Crusaders and told them: “Good job, you three. Not only you helped a young colt discovering his talent, but you also prevented him from being taking to Neverland.” “Wait, you were watching us the all time?!” Scootaloo asked. “Thanks for the help.” “Why would I interfere, when you handled it quite well?” Melody asked. “Besides, wasn’t it worth just to see that?” And she pointed to the stage and the Cutie Mark Crusaders saw Chrome Note with his parents. Despite having been caught by surprise, it was clear that they were proud of their son, hugging him and congratulating him. That scene caused the Crusaders to smile and Apple Bloom replied. “Yes, yes it is.” At a clearing in the dark forest of Neverland, Shaman was standing alone and very nervous. It was then that many shadows appeared and swirled around him and pooled together just in front of him. The gathered shadows solidified and turned into the one that was the Queen of Neverland. She was a fairy with a moderate harlequin coat, a black pitch mane tied in a tight bun with a silver crown with dark jewels and dark cobalt blue eyes. She was using a black wicked-looking dress and her wings were webbed. “You failed” the Queen said with an imposing and intimidating tone. “I almost had her, Your Majesty” the Shaman said, quivering. “But you pull me back.” “Time was up” she replied. “You brought me that fighter, but not Chrome Note. You did half of the job.” Hearing her saying that caused the Shaman to be quite fearful of what she could do him. The Queen then said: “So I’ll show you half the portion of mercy. You may stay in Neverland, but… Cragadile!” Cragadile immerged from the mist and the Queen said, while taking the Shaman’s stones with her magic from him and giving them to the Cragadile: “Take his stones.” “No!” the Shaman exclaimed. Cragadile opened his mouth and ate the stones and the Queen continued to say to the Shaman: “You will lose your magic.” “That means I’m…” the Shaman started. “Yes, downgraded” the Queen confirmed. “Warriors!” And figures appeared in the mist and the Queen told them: “Go to wherever the Cutie Mark Crusaders are, being it the Pony World or the Enchanted Forest. I want them gone. Get rid of those pesky little ponies once and for all.”