//------------------------------// // The Attack of the Zombie Pirates // Story: Light and Darkness – The Shadow of Midnight // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// The weekend ended and soon the academy returned to be as full and busy as it normally is. The news regarding about what happened regarding the Miss Nettle situation quickly spread and soon everyone knew about it, at least the main details. At the breakfast of Monday, the twins told her older brother and his friends about what happened. Silver Wind, Gust and Gallus were there was well. “So Sunny made this courageous act of jumping on Miss Nettle and taking her wand” Midnight said. “Wait, are you really saying that you really did that?” Gunter asked. “Wow! You know, Star, I think I really misjudged your sister.” “Hey, I can be impulsive when I want to be” Sunny protested, causing the others to laugh. “Okay, I get what you mean.” “I can’t believe you had all those adventures while I had to endure my uncle Quentin telling his stupid stories about his travels around the world” Gallus said. “Come on, little brother, they weren’t so bad” Gunter replied. “That’s what you say, but that because you like boring stuff” Gallus replied back. “I can back you up, Gallus” Galena said, what caused Gunter make her a hard look. “I still can’t believe that adorable filly was actually an evil fairy” Moonlight said, while having Star covering her shoulders with one of his wings. “If you’re like that, then imagine us that were her friends” Silver Wind said. “I wasn’t” Midnight replied. “An’ now we know why” Jonagold said. “That’s a good instinct dah one that ya have, Midnight. Hey, Star, looks like ya have competition. Ya better watch out. She was already able to tell an evil fairy apart.” “I also ha my reservations towards that filly” Star told. “But the fairy magic she used to disguise herself must have prevented me from sensing her true intentions. It’s a good thing Midnight dared to follow her instinct regarding what others would think.” “Yeah, it was amazing” Gust said, who then blushed a little. “I can imagine what my dad will do when he gets to know about this” Bramble said. “He has the upmost respect for the Great Fairies.” “Probably he would have all Thicket searched until he found Miss Nettle and then put her in a cell” Star replied. “You’re not wrong about that” Bramble replied. “You know, it looks like we can’t have a normal and easy year at the academy” Galena replied. “An’ why would we want that?” Jonagold asked, causing all the others to laugh, as they agreed with him. At Apple Bloom’s room, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were waiting for Purple Smoke, as they are called for a meeting with him to discuss the recent events. His purple smoke form got in and, once he reformed his corporeal form, he said: “Hello, girls, I’ve heard that you’ve been busy this weekend. Melody told me about your great job at her studio.” “Yeah, we may have sav’d Chrome Note, but we lost Night Glide” Apple Bloom said, a little down. “Don’t you worry, as soon we solve this problem with the Talent Thief, we will rescue all the talents that were kidnaped” the General of Talent said. “Yeah, now that you mention the Talent Thief…” Scootaloo said. “We got to know who that thief is” Sweetie Belle informed. “You don’t tell me…” Purple Smoke said. “It turns out that it is dah Queen ov Neverland” Apple Bloom told. “But ya already knew ‘bout that, don’t ya?” There was a pause, where Purple Smoke didn’t say anything, but his silence was the answer the Crusaders needed. “Oh, come on!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us before?!” “You already know the answer” he replied. “You need to know things on your own. This is your mission. I’m only here to give you a hoof.” “Okay… so now that we know about this Queen, can you please tell us more about her?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Well, if you must know…” Purple Smoke said, taking a few seconds before continuing. “She’s a fairy with an immense power. Her duty was to watch over the dreams of promising talents, serving as a way to inspire them by letting them enjoy the wonders of Neverland. She used to be so kind… and then suddenly just became… dark and bitter. She became obsessed in expanding her influence. That’s why we had to stop her and the only way to do it was by sealing her realm.” “It sounds a little drastic” Scootaloo commented. “When it comes to protect the Pony Reality, you come to see things differently” Purple Smoke replied. “And dis queen, does she have a name or we’ll have tah keep callin’ her Queen” Apple Bloom said. The General of Talent gave a laugh and said: “I guess she now only answers to that name, but you can also call her Tinkerbell.” “Tinkerbell?” Scootaloo asked. “I would never thought the Talent Thief would have a name like that.” “Believe me, kiddo, when it comes to villains, their name can be deceiving” Purple Smoke said. “And now that you have defeated one of her minions in the way you did, I bet she won’t rest until you three get out of the picture.” “So, what ya’re sayin’ is that we need tah watch out our backs?” Apple Bloom asked. “Just like when you face any other villain” Purple Smoke replied. “That’s my advice. For now, try to enjoy your work, until your next dream vision… and be careful while you do that. I would hate to have to pick new talent scouts.” Having said that, he turned into his smoke form and went away. “You know, sometimes I wish that guy could be a little nice with the words he uses” Scootaloo commented. “But he’s right about one thing” Sweetie Belle said. “We should try to relax a little bit, while we don’t have any other dream vision or clue.” “And what do you have in mind?” Scootaloo asked. Apple Bloom thought about that and then had an idea. “Hey, what ‘bout campin’?” she asked. “We could take dah first years fer campin’. Ah’ve heard Holly talkin’ ‘bout this place here in Thicket that is great fer campin’.” The other two Crusaders shared a look and then nodded in agreement. Through the rest of the week, the Crusaders started organizing the camping. The first years got very excited with the camping, especially the twins, as they had never really had gone camping. “Oh, I can’t wait for this camping!” Sunny exclaimed, excited, while she was preparing her saddlebags with his sister watching. “I agree with you” Midnight said. “I mean, we had to see Star going camping with dad, uncle Shining Armor and Gleaming Shield, while we stayed at the castle.” “Wow, sorry to tell you this, girls, but I don’t envy your lives” Silver Wind said, while packing her saddlebags. “I mean, you may be princesses, but I couldn’t imagine a life without camping with my dad from time to time.” “Well, we kind off understand now” Sunny said. “I mean, having in count our situation…” “You mean, having in count my situation” Midnight said. “I’m the one who has the unstable magic.” “Yeah, that still bugs me a little” Silver Wind told. “I mean, you two having magic from each other… It’s just weird.” “You just described our all family” Midnight said. “I mean, between a mother that is the holder of the original star seed, a father that is the General of Balance, a brother that is a jinchuriki and having a bunch of Generals of Order watching over our shoulders, I would say being Twins of Light and Darkness is just another item to add to the list.” “In a way, I agree with you, Midnight” Sunny said. “I wonder what more weirdness we still have to discover about our family. Perhaps a hidden brother that we’ve never heard about.” That caused both Midnight and Silver to laugh and then the former said: “Yeah, that would be pretty weird… Well, I bet get going to my room to pack my things.” And so she left the room. When Saturday came, as soon the sun had been risen, the first years were gathered at the front of the academy’s entrance, with the Cutie Mark Crusaders counting the students that would go to the camping. With them, were Moonlight and Galena. “Thank yall fer acceptin’ in helpin’ us with whatchin’ the kids” Apple Bloom said. “You don’t have to thank us, Apple Bloom…” Moonlight said. “I mean, Miss Apple Bloom.” “Yeah, with the boys out on their own shenanigans, we needed something to occupy our heads” Galena added. Apple Bloom then turned to the young students and told them: “Okay, guys, now remember tah never get too far from dah group.” “Yeah, and be sure that you’re always with somepony” Scootaloo added. “Never go alone anywhere.” “And if you get lost, don’t wander around” Sweetie Belle told. “Stay where you are so that we can find you.” After giving those advices, the group advanced. They walked for a while until they found the place where they would camp. Turns out it was a very good place for camping. Once they arrived, everyone started to raise their tents. Thanks to Silver Wind, Sunny and Midnight were able to do it quite fast. “Wow, raising a tent is not that easy” Sunny said. “You bet” Midnight agreed, turning then to Silver Wind. “But, thanks to you, Silver, we were able to do it. It’s a good thing you are sleeping with us in the same tent.” “Oh, please” Gallus said, as he and Gust approached. “We were able to raise our tent even faster than you. Check that out!” And he pointed to the tent that he and Gust would share. “It’s not about speed, Gallus, but making sure we have a cozy and dry place to sleep” Silver Wind said. “Yeah, yeah, I know that, but at least we could add some competition to spice things up” Gallus told. “Gallus has a certain point” Gust agreed. “This may be my mom’s influence, but a little competition only makes things more interesting.” “Well, you’re not wrong about that” a voice said. The voice belonged to Scootaloo who approached. “Coach Scootaloo” Gust said. “I have to say, your tent looks good” she said, looking to the boys’ tent. “But the girls’ is more stable. Speed may be important, but not as important as patience and make sure you do a good job.” “Yes, coach” Gallus and Gust replied. “So, after you make sure your tent is as good as theirs, why don’t you go get some firewood?” Scootaloo asked. “With your speed, I’m certain we’ll have enough wood in no time.” Having said that, she moved away. After she did that, Gust bumped Gallus’ shoulder and told: “Great move, genius, now we have extra work and all because you wanted to show off.” “Oh, please, you were also on board on the idea” Gallus replied. “Hey, boys, I advise you to hurry up” Midnight said. “Yeah, we still want to have the fire ready when it gets dark” Silver Wind added. And the girls laughed, causing the boys to growl. So after they were done with the tent, Gallus and Gust went to get some firewood. While gathering wood, Gallus said to Gust: “Come on, Gusty, hurry up. We’re losing all the fun.” “Gallus, don’t be rush” Gust said. “We may end up bringing sticks that won’t last as firewood and we’ll have to do this again. And don’t call me Gusty!” It was then that they heard steps approaching. The two students looked in direction of the steps and put themselves in a defensive position, as the steps were coming from an opposite direction of the camp. “Who’s there?” Gallus asked. And, from the bushes, a stallion appeared. He was a corpulent earth stallion with a moderate amaranth coat with an octopus image as a Cutie Mark, dark grayish vermilion mane with an indigo woolen hat and grayish tangelo eyes. “Who’re you?” Gallus asked. “Oh, you don’t have to worry” the stallion, while approaching the two youngsters. “I’m not going to hurt you. After all, you’re not the ones I’m after. But I may need you to lure them out.” “I don’t know who you are or what you want, but for you know I just got my talons sharpen” Gallus said, showing his talons in a threatening way. “Yeah, and I’ve learned a thing or two with my parents” Gust said, while hovering, raising his hooves. “Oh, there’s no need for that” the strange stallion said, while taking something from under his woolen hat. “The old Smee here is not a fighter, but rather a planner…” And he took a magic watch, like the one owned by Cragadile and the Shaman, but of different color, opening it. “And what he’s planning right now is using you as bait to lure the Cutie Mark Crusaders” Smee said. And he pointed the watch to the two students. It was then that, as the watch moved in its backward movement, it released strange waving energies that left Gallus and Gust in an hypnotic state. “Now, you’re coming with me” Smee said, while starting to move, with the two youngsters following. “Let’s see how much do the Crusaders care about their dear students.” Back at the camp, the twins and Silver Wind were having fun with the latter telling her friends about some things she had done with her father at the times they camped. It was then that Midnight noticed something strange. “Don’t you think the boys are taking too long to get wood?” she asked. “They are probably in one of those stupid competitions” Silver Wind suggested. “You know how boys are.” “Maybe you’re right, but…” Midnight said. “I don’t know… It’s a feeling. But also because, if they were competing, they would already be here with the firewood.” “Midnight has a point” Sunny said. “Perhaps we should go and see if they didn’t get into trouble.” The three fillies then went to the area where Gallus and Gust had gone to gather wood and then they found the sticks they had gathered but dropped after their encounter with Smee. “Okay… this is strange” Sunny said. “Do you think that…” Silver Wind, who now had a much better control over her pony-wolf powers, sniffed and said: “They were definitely here… but so was somepony else.” “What do you mean with that?” Midnight asked. “Do you think they were taken by that somepony.” “I don’t know about that” Silver Wind replied. “But their scents are leading the same way.” “Then we have to follow them” Midnight said. “I don’t know…” Sunny said. “I think it would be better to tell Miss Apple Bloom and the others about this.” “But who knows what can happen to Gust and Gallus in the meantime” Midnight said. However, Sunny was a little uncertain. But she got to admit that her twin was right about the fact they needed to act as quickly as possibly or else who knows what could happen to Gust and Gallus. As they walked through the path that Silver Wind had pointed out, Sunny said: “I’m still not certain about this, Midnight. We can still go back and warn the grown-ups and…” “Come on, Sunny, this is not that so” Midnight said. “There's some nice trees, pretty flowers…” “And scary-looking stone deers!” Silver Wind exclaimed, pointing to the front. Arriving to a clearing, that had what appeared to be a dome made of branches, they got to see what appeared to be statues of deer warriors positioned in line along all the clearing’s width and most of its length. “And what are they doing right in the middle of the path?” Midnight asked. “Oh, I remembered reading about this” Sunny said. “It would appear this are statues of the warriors that have fallen in combat during a certain battle Thicket had fought.” “It looks like a maze” Silver Wind commented. “In that way, we just have to go around the statues” Midnight replied. But when she tried to do that, one statue moved and blocked her way. “Did you see that?!” Silver Wind asked. “The statue moved.” “This is getting creepier by the minute” Sunny commented. Midnight tried to pass again around the statues, but another statue blocked her way. “Let's try again” Midnight said. “Maybe split up this time.” Silver Wind went another way, but another statue blocked her way, and the same happened when Midnight tried to cross again. When Sunny was to do it, she found a statue blocking her way. “I'm sorry, Midnight, but I think we should have gone ask for help” Sunny said. “Sunny may be right” Silver Wind added. “If we can't even make it pass statues, how are we going to save the boys?” “But what about Gust and Gallus?” Midnight asked. “I'm sure Miss Apple Bloom, Professor Sweetie Belle and coach Scootaloo will find them quickly and save them” Sunny said. “Let's head back.” Midnight then sighed, as doubts about her capabilities to help her friends started to invade her mind. “Maybe you're right” she said, as Sunny and Silver Wind started to retreat. “Maybe we can't do this after all.” The young unicorn gave a last look to the maze of statues, before starting to follow her sister and Silver Wind. It was then that the jewel of her mane clip started to glow. “Giving up so soon?” a voice asked. The three fillies turned around and saw… “Melody?!” they exclaimed. It was her, Melody. She was exhibiting her tender smile. “But what are you doing here?” Midnight asked. “Well, the Enchanted Forest is good for a walk…” Melody replied. “But the better question here is: where do you think you're going? You know, I never gave up so easily when facing difficult obstacles and neither should you.” “I was trying to tell them that, Melody” Midnight said. “But there's no way we can get through those warriors” Sunny replied. “It's too tough” Silver Wind added. “Then you just have to be tougher” Melody replied. “I don't know if we can do that, Melody” Midnight said. “Me neither” Sunny told. “I think you girls are stronger than you know” Melody replied. And she started to sing, while trying to start passing the maze, with the statues blocking her way. She sang how she knew all about overcoming doubts and how ponies used to tell her there were things she couldn’t do. But she was able to prove them wrong and now she would share with them words that would help them understand. She sang that there was only one voice to obey, while testing a vine that was nearby, being that the voice inside of them and motivated them to let it be their guide and, in that way, they would save the day. It was then that, after getting some haul, she started to climb the vine, while singing that the fillies were stronger than they knew and, to the amazement of them, they saw Melody swinging around over the statues on the vine, all while singing that they, despite their size, could give their all and find that they were stronger than they know. She returned to their side and landed beside them. Watching Melody, Midnight became inspired and then said: “That gives me an idea. Instead of trying to go through the maze, let's go over it.” “Now you're thinking” Melody commended her. “Midnight, do you really think we can jump across all these statues?” Sunny asked, still a little skeptical. “I know we can!” Midnight replied. And she started to sing, all while handing a vine to Sunny, trying to inspire her and Silver Wind by starting climbing another vine. Silver Wind, who started to be motivated, also proceeded to climb a vine and, despite her doubts, Sunny did the same. With Melody also climbing her vine, she and the fillies started to sing that they were stronger than they knew, while swinging over the statues and starting pass over them, until they reached the other side, landing and ending the song while holding each other’s hooves. “We made it!” Sunny exclaimed, excited and not wanting to believe. “That was great!” Silver Wind said, while hugging Sunny. “Melody, we still need to find our friends. Can you help us?” “You don't need my help” Melody replied, taking Midnight’s hoof. “You already have what it takes to get pass anything that comes your way. Now go. I believe there are some boys that need rescuing.” Midnight nodded and then said to the others: “Come on, guys. We can do this.” The three fillies started to advance, leaving Melody. They continued their way, with Silver wind telling the path to take. It was then that Midnight saw something. “What is that?” And a swarm of moths advanced towards them, starting to bother them. “Silver moths!” Silver Wind said. “I can't see where I'm going” Midnight said. “I can barely see!” Silver Wind protested. “I can barely move” Midnight replied. “What do we do?” Silver Wind asked. “Melody was wrong” Sunny said, in a defeatist way. “We can't get through this.” It was then that Sunny had an idea. “Hey, wait a second” she said. “Girls, I have an idea: it’s a spell Star taught me to make bugs stay away.” Having said that, she casted a spell that unleased an odorless smoke (at least to ponies) that caused the moths to fly away. “You did it, Sunny!” Silver Wind said. “Yeah, you really saved us from those moths” Midnight added. “I did, didn't I?” Sunny said, with her confidence getting stronger. “I think I'm ready to face anything that might be waiting for us. “Great” Midnight said. “Then let's go.” They continued their way. As they did, Midnight noticed: “You guys, the path is opening up.” “Maybe we're almost there” Sunny suggested. “Maybe” Midnight replied. But that was not the case as, once again, they found another obstacle: a river whose current was too strong for any of the fillies to cross over. “Oh, now what do we do?” Sunny asked. “I doubt our magic is strong enough to lead us to the other side safely.” “Looks like we’ll have to find another way to cross to the other side” Midnight said. “Maybe not…” Silver Wind said. “What do you mean?” Sunny asked. Silver Wind approached a tree that was there, closed her eyes, while taking a deep breath. It was then that she opened them, revealing her pony-wolf eyes, with her claws coming out, and she made some blows at the tree and it just fell down, creating a bridge. “Problem solved” Silver Wind said, returning to her normal pony form. “Wow, Silver, we didn’t know you could already do that” Midnight said. “Neither did I, but I followed Melody’s advice and I tried to be stronger” she replied. “Apparently, it worked.” “Well, let’s move on” Midnight said. And the three fillies crossed the river, continuing then their mission to find their two friends. After a while, they saw a cave approaching. “They are inside that cave” Silver Wind said. “I can smell it. But there’s something else there. Something… off.” “Well, girls, let’s go” Midnight said. “But be careful. We don’t know what’s in there.” They advanced carefully and got inside the cave. The three fillies soon saw their friends, who were still under the influence of the magic watch’s hypnosis. “Boys!” the girls exclaimed, approaching them. “But what happened to them?” Silver Wind asked. “It looks like they are in some kind of trance” Sunny said. “Oh, you’re quite right, my dear” a voice said. The fillies turned and saw Smee nearby, blocking their way to the exit. “And here I was expecting for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, only to have three more baits for the trap” he said, while taking the watch. “Now, just be good fillies and look to the watch.” As he approached them with the watch preparing to use its hypnotic power, the three fillies started to quiver in fear. But then Midnight, with Melody’s advice still resonating in her head and seeing how her sister and friend were so afraid, wouldn’t let that pony cause them no harm. Looking to Smee with determination in her eyes, Midnight could feel her dark magic starting to flow to her horn who started to release dark sparkles. She then shouted: “Leave us alone!” And she released a dark shock wave from her horn that threw Smee back a few hooves. He hot surprised by that and Midnight couldn’t believe that, despite having used her dark magic, she wasn’t able to defeat that stallion. “Impressive…” Smee said. “But it will take more than just a little dark spell like that to take down dear old Smee.” “What about three awesome Cutie Mark Crusaders?” a voice asked. They all looked and, to the fillies’ relief, they saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, both using their dreaming cloaks. “Well, well, well, finally you got here” Smee said. “I was starting to think you didn’t care about these children enough to save them.” “You will pay for taken innocent children and use them to lure us in, you rascal” Scootaloo said, as she and the others advanced inside. “Let them go” Apple Bloom said. “Yer problem is with us.” “Let me think…” Smee said. “Let them go, instead of using them to ensure your eminent defeat? I think I’ll pass that.” “Then it’s time for you to face your defeat” Sweetie Belle replied. Just as they were about to attack Smee, five other stallions appeared. They looked like pirates, having as well strange tattoos, and they positioned themselves between the Crusaders and Smee. “Oh, do you really think I would come and face the famous Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were able to foil the Queen’s plans many times, without back-up?” Smee said. “Old Smee here may have a lot of years over him, but he clearly isn’t a foul.” “Ah, please, we already faced a giant crocodile, shadow creatures and a pony with crazy magic stones” Scootaloo said. “Do you really think we’re afraid of five pirates.” Just as she said that, a strange glow took over their bodies and so they started to change. The five pirates’ color was now cold and grey, with their faces twisted and ghastly. White bandages were coating their bodies and long rope tentacles sprouted from their backs. Each rope ending with a hook. “Okay, now we’re a little afraid” Scootaloo said. “What are those things?” Apple Bloom asked. “They look like… zombies” Sweetie Belle said. One of the zombies launched his ropes who started to tangle around Sweetie Belle. He then pushed her forward, with two other zombies ready to attack her. But Scootaloo and Apple Bloom saved her, by attacking the pirates with their gale and wood nature respectively, with the pegasus Crusader soon kicking the one that was holding Sweetie Belle, prompting him to release her. The other two pirates used their ropes on Apple Bloom and Scootaloo but they dodged them. Apple Bloom then used her wood nature to summon vines that tied some of the pirates, while Sweetie Belle used her wind nature to throw the others against the walls of the cave. But even that was not enough, as the zombie pirates soon got up, with the ones tied by Apple Bloom’s vines getting rid of them. They attacked again, launching their ropes and being able to catch the Crusaders. “No!” Sweetie Belle said, while trying to release herself. “On no, this is bad!” Apple Bloom said. Smee chuckled and said: “And now it’s time to dispose of you, Crusaders. The Queen will be very glad to know that you won’t stand in her way again.” Seeing the Cutie Mark Crusaders in trouble, Midnight could feel her desperation taking over her and then taking shape in her dark magic. Seeing her sister like that, Sunny said: “Midnight, no… Calm down.” But she wasn’t listening her. Unable to contain herself anymore, Midnight shouted: “Release… them!” And she unleased another dark pulse of energy, with this one being even more powerful than the other. That caused Smee and the pirate zombies to be thrown to the ground, causing the Cutie Mark Crusaders to be freed. They got surprised by what just happened. “But what the hay…” Apple Bloom started. “… just…” Scootaloo continued. “… happened?” Sweetie Belle ended. Smee started to get up and, seeing the defeated zombie pirates, he made an angry face and said: “No! This can’t be!” He took his magic watch and used it to open a portal to Neverland. The zombie pirates, as they got up, crossed the portal and, before Smee could also cross it, he said to the Cutie Mark Crusaders: “This isn’t over, Cutie Mark Crusaders. You are on the Queen’s aim and you can be sure she won’t give up until she gets what she wants, even if that means to dispose of you.” “And you can tell her we’re not afraid of her!” Scootaloo exclaimed back. Smee crossed the portal that then closed behind him. The Crusaders approached the three fillies and Apple Bloom asked: “Are y’all okay?” “Excluding the part we just faced by a bunch of zombie pirates, I think we’re okay” Silver Wind replied. “But who were them and what did they want?” Sunny asked. “It’s… complicated” Sweetie Belle replied. “But don’t worry, we’re dealing with it. But the most important thing is that you’re safe.” She then turned to Midnight, who was still a little shaken by the dark magic she had just used, and asked: “What about you, Midnight? Are you okay?” Recovering most of her senses, Midnight replied: “I… think so.” Sunny looked worried to her sister. That dark magic was really powerful and that made her wonder about how much she would be able to handle. “I hate to state the obvious, but I think we should worry about those two” Scootaloo said, pointing to Gallus and Gust. “Don’t worry about that” Sweetie Belle said. “I think I can nullify that hypnotic state with my Thirteenth Note power.” Focusing, Sweetie Belle started to sing and her voice caused the two youngsters to wake up from their hypnotic state. “Ah, what happened?!” the two of them asked. Seeing their friends and the Crusaders in front of them and noticing they were in a cave, Gallus said: “Okay, this is weird.” “Why do I have a feeling that we missed something important?” Gust asked. And that caused, to their confusing, their friends and the Crusaders to laugh. In Neverland, Tinkerbell was sitting on her throne made of wood and decorated with twisted twigs. Around her, there were shadow creatures with green eyes. Smee approached her, bowing to her, and said: “My Queen… I’m so sorry. Please, have mercy of old Smee. We don’t know what happened. We had the Crusaders where we wanted, but then…” However, he didn’t finish, as Tinkerbell raised her hoof, causing Smee to stop talking. “I saw how you failed miserably your mission to get rid of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. However, I have to admit that it was not entirely your fault.” “You do?” Smee asked, a little relieved. “In fact, this failure of yours just led me to realize the talents that I need to make my plans come true” Tinkerbell said, turning to a mirror and making the images of Midnight and Sunny appear. “Those two are Twins of Light and Darkness. The Dark Twin’s potential with dark magic is immense, and her Light Twin’s must be equally great. If I can get my hooves on them, then I can finally put my plans to work. I just need to wait until they are ready to bloom.” And she laughed evily.