//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Darkness Within // Story: Dancing With The Shadows // by Vocal Sweets //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy all met up in Twilight’s castle, when they knocked on the door Starlight answers.  “Oh, hey guys, what brings you here?” She questions the girls, who each were holding gifts for the Princess of Friendship.  Starlight’s eyes landed on the five gifts before her. “And have gifts? But it’s not Twilight’s birthday, today.” she explains.  Rarity giggles. “Oh no darling we know it’s not Twilight’s birthday, we just wanted to check up on her, it's been weeks since we haven’t talked to her, or-” Rarity said, trailing off a bit into her own thoughts.  “Hung out with her!” Rainbow Dash blurts out.  “Ate with her.” Said Applejack.  “Laughed with her!” Pinkie Pie said.  “Or even relaxed with her.” Came the voice of the timid and shy pegasus, Fluttershy.  The five of them explained to Starlight, the kids already made their way up the staircase to the door where their parents stood. Starlight thought for a moment, they did make excellent points.  Confetti Pop was the first child to speak up out of the five that were present. “Where is Aunt Twilight?” she asks.  “She’s out doing a friendship mission, but it’s been weeks since she has yet to return home, her cutie mark is still glowing on the map.” Starlight explains to the young filly. Rarity gave a perplexed look. “That can’t be right, the Twilight I know would come back after a friendship mission on time!” Rarity said.  Applejack thought for a moment.  “How long did you say that she was gone for?” Asked Rainbow Dash.  “Four weeks, you guys wanna come in? It’s hot outside.” Starlight asks, as she offers hospitality to her friends. She opened the door wider to let the girls in, they all came in with their gifts and the kids followed behind their mothers.  “I have a bad feeling about this, girls…” Mutters Fluttershy, as she let her worries for her friend worsen for a moment. Applejack places her hoof on her friend's shoulder. “Don’t be worrying too much, sugarcube, she’s probably handling a big friendship problem.” Applejack said, her tone assuring.  “But what friendship problem takes nearly four weeks?!” Shrieks Pinkie Pie.  “Probably the whole town has got a friendship problem?” HoneyCrisp suggests.  “It’s probably just a big friendship problem, nothing to worry about.” Meadow Bliss said, his tone calm.  “Where was she last summoned to?” Applejack asks Starlight.  “The Crystal Empire, the Cutie Map led her there, come on I’ll show you.” Said Starlight. She opened the chamber door to the throne room, revealing the Cutie Map and Twilight’s cutie mark still glowing and hovering over the Crystal Empire.  “The Crystal Empire, do you think it might be Shining and Cadence?” Questions Rarity, who gazes at the map.  “Maybe, wait where’s Harmonia?” Fluttershy questions.  “Upstairs still sleeping.” Answers another voice from behind, it was no other than Tempest Shadow.  “Can we visit her?” Asks Cotton Berry.  “Yeah, I wanna see her and her shiny-” Ophelia said.  “Oh no you don’t.” Warns Meadow Bliss.  “Now, now children that’s enough, why don’t you go check on Harmonia while we take a look at Twilight’s Friendship Map, maybe it will tell us about Twilight’s whereabouts.” Said Rarity.  Rainbow Dash flew into the throne room. “Yeah, let’s!”  *** “I swear this castle looked a lot smaller on the outside.” complains Prism.  “Do any of you know where her room is?” Honey Crisp asks, looking on both sides of her which was filled with nothing, but doors.  Ophelia stops at Harmonia's bedroom door. “If I recall it's this one.” She said. Ophelia knocks a little not wanting to disturb her friend. “Harmonia darling, it's me Ophelia, may we come in?” Ophelia asks.  The six of them waited for her to answer. “She's asleep dummy, maybe she left her door open!” Prism said. “Now don't you be doing that Prism! It's rude to barge into somepony's room remember?” Honey Crisp warns. Ophelia knocked again, they heard a groan from the other side. “Who's out there…” Harmonia's voice, muffled through the door. “It's only us darling. “ Said Ophelia “Come in.” Announces Harmonia.  They all came in, Harmonia rubbing her eyes and head. “What time is it…” she asks.  “It's already afternoon darling, you sleep very late do you?” Ophelia asks, slightly concerned for her friend. Honey Crisp sat beside Harmonia giving her a warm hug. “How are you?” she asks, her tone buttery sweet and soft. The other four laying their gifts on the side of the bed.  “Just gonna leave that…” Prism laid his gift carefully on the ground, it was a Wonderbolt vase made out of gem rocks and golden linings on them. He owed the others after placing his gift.  “She's gonna love this.” Meadow Bliss placed a bouquet of flowers near the nightstand, wrapped around nice and neat. “It's been awhile since we talked, Harmonia, how are things?” Cotton Berry asks.  “There going okay I guess… I just miss my mom, do you guys know where she is?” Harmonia asks. “Don't be worrying too much, she's fine.” Honey Crisp assures her friend, as she rubbed her friends back, Ophelia fixing Harmonia's messy mane. “Relax Harmony, she's just doing a friendship problem.” Prism said, his tone relaxed.  “I just mean… the last I heard she was in the Crystal Empire with Aunt Cadence and Uncle Shining, and she told me she was going to be gone for two days....” Harmonia said, her voice filled with nervousness and worry. “Well, you see she's not…. She’s actually been gone for four weeks… ”Ophelia replied to Harmonia, Harmonia's eyes widened with worry when she heard about it, she then teleports off of her bed with a snap of her paw. “Nice work Ophelia, you just triggered another problem.” mutters Prism. “Well what do you want me to say!?” snaps Ophelia. They both argued for a bit while the other three followed Harmonia downstairs. *** The mane 5 along with Starlight and Tempest planned a search party around the Cutie Map, Harmonia barged in, her eyes filled with tears. “Where's mom?” Harmonia asked, as she was ready to cry her heart out again. Starlight ran up to her and hugged her tightly. “Sweetheart, we're doing the best we can to find Twilight ok? Relax we'll find her.” Starlight hugged Harmonia tightly, as she sobbing. “I know, since there are 14 of us, we split up, the first group will go with 8 members, and the other with 6, that way we can search faster!” Honey Crisp beamed with the idea, everyone looked at her with the idea coming into play. “Now I like your thinking!” Prism said, pumped up and ready to go. “Splendid idea, only one question, where do we start searching?” Ophelia asked, standing next to Honey Crisp.  “Well the only place her cutie mark is hovering over is about the Crystal Empire.” Rainbow Dash looked at the map, then nodded. “Maybe you should start there?” Tempest said, as she was about to open the front door. “Splendid! Let's get searching, we have a friend to find. Onward!” Rarity cheered with the others. All of the girls and kids left leaving Starlight and Harmonia behind. “Shh, it's alright sweetie, we'll find your mom ok?” Starlight said, reassuring the young filly she was comforting. “Yes…” Harmonia replied, wiping her tears. She let out with determination, Harmonia and Starlight stood up and followed the rest to the Crystal Empire. *** “Ok, the first group of 8 should look at the castle and the market, the second group of 6 shall search through town.” Rarity led the first group, Applejack led the second group to the Town. The groups started splitting up, looking at their designated locations. “I hope we find her soon, it might get dark out and you know what happens in the dark!” Pinkie Pie playfully said, nudging Rarity as she giggled a little. “Now is not the  time to be joking around Pinkie, this is very serious.” Rarity said, her tone unamused and blunt. Harmonia Followed the first group along with Starlight. “Where could mom be?” Her tone is still worried and concerned. “She might be at the Crystal Empire with Princess Cadence, still. Let's search there!” Starlight carried her niece on her back. The first group ran towards the castle, nearing a large courtyard. Starlight walked up to the staircase first, followed by the group, she knocked on the door. Only to be answered by Cadence. “Oh Starlight good afternoon! What brings you he-...” Cadence beamed, but lost it when she saw everyone behind Starlight, Starlight held a serious expression. Pinkie pie waved behind everyone, her smile giving the seriousness away. “I see you brought guests, do you guys wanna come in?” Cadence opened the door for the group to come in, offering hospitality.  “Not now princess, we have an emergency, you see your sister in law is missing for four week!” Starlight said, her tone was filled with worry. Cadence was shocked, Shining heard them and he opened the door completely. “My sister is missing!?” Shining yelled, his voice echoed outside, everypony looked at him. “Yes! And we wanted to know if you happen to know where she went after she visited you!” Starlight asked, interrogating the white unicorn in front of her.  “All we remember was she went back home because she thought there was a friendship problem here!” Shining snapped, his worry for her sister started growing. “What kind of friendship problem?” Starlight asked Cadence beside Shining. “Well she thought it was us fighting!” Cadence answered, her tone worried.   “But you guys never fought before, this is strange…” Starlight thought for a moment. “We can't let up yet!” Pinkie Pie beamed at the whole group.  “She's right, maybe there's a sign to where she went next!” Rainbow Dash replied, she hovered waiting for the others to move on. The 2 kids along with Harmonia searched for traces or signs of Twilight’s presence, they saw a faint outline of hooves headed towards the outskirts of the Empire where a giant gate stood nearby was a forest Outlook and a train station. “Maybe mom went back home!” Harmonia thought, she followed the traces and ran as fast as she could. “Harmonia, wait!” Starlight followed the young filly. Starlight gallops after Harmonia. Once she caught up to her she was slightly out of breath. “..... Harmonia, you know better than to run off like that.” Starlight said, scolding her niece. Harmonia said nothing, but to look at where her mother's tracks stopped. “She must be here...she has to be…” Harmonia frantically scouting the ground, she wipes her tears, still not giving up from looking for her mother, Harmonia gathered herself together, cooled down just like how her mother taught her.  “Are you feeling better now sweetheart?” Starlight brushed the mane of her niece, calming her down. “Yeah, I'm fine! She must be nearby, if the trails stopped here, then why is she not in Ponyville yet?” Harmonia questions her aunt, hugging her tightly. “Why would there be a Crystal forest on the outskirts of The Crystal Empire?” Starlight asked.  “Who cares?! This is gorgeous!” Rarity said, admiring Mistmane’s elegant gardening skills.  “Oh! You can thank our Crystal Gardener, Mistmane- however we never asked her to make a Crystal Forest.” Cadence explains.  “We didn’t honey. Trust me I’d remember if we did- but we didn’t. Something isn’t right.” Mutters Shining Armor.  “Daddy? What is Miss. Mistmane’s work on the outskirts of The Empire? I thought it always stays within the Crystal Empire?”  Crystal questions.  “It does. She never has her work this far out.” Mutters Flurry Heart.  Starlight begins to think to herself for a moment. “Hmm… something feels off.” Starlight mutters to herself.  Starlight stuck a hoof out, but her hoof went through the glistening exterior. “What?!” Starlight wonders, she waves her hoof again through it.  “It’s… it’s holographic?! But how and why?” Starlight questions.  “What do you mean holographic?” Prism asked.  “She means it’s transparent or see through darling.” Rarity exclaims.  “Like an illusion?” Meadow Bliss questions.  “Exactly!” Starlight exclaims.  “But if this is an illusion then why would somepony go through so much trouble to set this up?” HoneyCrisp wonders.  “This setup seems to be well thought out, something tells me this was the work of somepony who wanted Twilight to follow them to this remote location. But who?” Cadence said.   “I think I know why… Let me dispel this illusion so we can see what we are working with.” Starlight said, she charges her horn and with her spell in mind she fires it at the forest.  The group watches as the spell slowly but surely dissolved into revealing what the location truly was: A forest covered in darkness and mist.   Starlight’s eyes widened, she pointed to the forest Outlook, still seeing hoofprints. Harmonia looks at her aunt confused. “What is this place?” Harmonia looked at her aunt. “Stay behind me sweetie.” Starlight warns her niece, she carries Harmonia to her back and she proceeds with the first group into the woods. “Oh my, she went here? Why on Equestria would she go here!?” Rarity looked around her environment, seeing mud, and dirty leaves moving around. “Whatever it is I'm not liking this…” Pinkie Pie placed her daughter and son behind her, then continued. “Shining, Cadence. Give your kids to the girls for a while, we don't want them getting lost in there. Harmonia stay behind me.” Starlight instructed the two. Cadence and Shining followed Starlight's instructions. “Kids, I need you to wait here, me and daddy are gonna be back soon ok?” The two kids nodded as they stayed behind Rarity and Pinkie Pie. “Just be careful, ok?” Crystal said, her tone worried. Flurry and Crystal hugged their mother, Harmonia looked at them, her face changed from determined to a little bit of sadness, but she shook the feeling off, she followed Starlight into the forest, Rarity and Cadence were side to side, Shining behind them with a spear levitated with his horn. “We don't know what's in here so get ready for anything that comes our way!” Rarity preps herself for the worse to come. “Don't worry...I got this…” A crow passes by, Shining's eyes widened, stabbing a tree trunk with his spear, The four looked at Shining, their eyes narrowed. “I'm sorry...just tensed…” Shining gulped a little. Fluttershy tensed up at the sound of the crow. Light fog covered the ground. As leaves crunched under their hooves. “This looks like the Everfree Forest, but way creepier!” Fluttershy hid behind Shining and Cadence, hugging his son at the same time. “ No kidding, this is worse than the Everfree, it feels like Tartarus in here…” Rainbow Dash said, looking at the dead trees and falling branches.  “This is not the lifestyle our Twilight would want!” Rarity kicked a few rocks out of the way, and wiped her hooves simultaneously “so much for fashion…” she said, looking at the mud on her hooves.  “You won't be needing fashion in this part of Equestria.” Cadence said slightly annoyed by Rarity’s whining. “No kidding! So Starlight dear, would you mind telling us what's our current situation?” Rarity questions the unicorn in front of her.  “Well to be honest. I feel like we are in the middle of nowhere!” Starlight said looking around in her environment, Rarity's smile turned into big frown. “Well at least we're all together right?” Pinkie Pie beamed slightly, not wanting to trigger an argument. “I believe optimistic beliefs are not on our side today Pinkie…” Rarity said wiping a few mud sticks off of her hooves. “Aw come on Rarity, will find a way back! Besides we have…” Pinkie looked at the ground, their tracks unseen “Relax, I got this.” Cadence lights up her horn. “That's more like it! Do you still see tracks?” Rarity questioned Cadence. The others stopped, something suspicious about where Shining was walking into. “This doesn't look right, why would Twilight stop here?” Starlight Questions Cadence confused on what's happening. “I think I know why!” Cadence yells, looking at the scratch marks and parts of a tree split apart. “Mom...” Harmonia started crying a little, Starlight hugged her niece tightly. “Listen to me sweetie, your mother is powerful ok? She knows how to escape this! But where did she go?” Starlight muttered the last bit to herself, but she kept looking around for the trail. “What if Aunt Twilight got captured?” Confetti looks at everyone, they're faces confused. The kids and mothers look at Confetti with a muted look. “What!?” She whines. “Confetti, that's stupid.” Prism states bluntly. “But think about it! She was here right? HELLO THERE ARE MARKINGS EVERYWHERE!” She gestures everywhere around them. She exhales, the fog moved away revealing so many markings of something coming out of the ground, scratch marks and more. “She may be right about this guys…” Harmonia looked at the big scratch marks around them. ”But where was she taken to…” Starlight looked around and thought for a moment “Didn't see that one coming!” Prism let's out, surprised by Confetti's theory. “Judging by that big head of yours from the last fiasco at school, yeah you definitely didn't see that coming” Meadow Bliss made fun of Prism.  “And who's asking you!” Prism bluntly stated towards Meadow Bliss. “No need to be hot headed.” Meadow Bliss state, meditating a little. “Judging by these marks…” Starlight muttered. She brought out a book from her saddle bag, opening some pages. “These markings looked like the ones Sombra had…” Starlight looked at the picture, her eyes widened. “But that's impossible, we stopped him before!” Shining looked around the area, a lot of thoughts around his mind. Starlight showed him the markings then the pictures in the book, the two looked similar. “Looks like you didn't stop him completely!” Starlight said to Shining, she placed the book back in her saddle bag. “Well we have to do something!” Shining said, as he searched around for clues.  “We don't know where he even took her!” Cadence yelled at Shining, tears streaming down her eyes. “We got our lead!” Starlight looked towards the north side. She illuminates her horn, revealing drag tracks, the second group caught up. “We didn't find Twilight in the town, luckily we found you guys, and I bet she's right around here somewhere!” Applejack panted heavily slightly tired. “Let's keep our hopes up...come on!” Starlight said, filled with determination. She pushes forward, along with everyone along with the kids. *** Twilight was laying down on the cold hard ground, sniffling a bit as she remembered every bit of happy thought she had left, but she never lost hope, she sat up looking at the dimly lit up chamber, cold air brushing her fur. “I do hope you feel comfortable in there...might I replace your cage with something comfortable.” Sombra said, his tone nonchalant. The cage was replaced with dark crystals- sharp crystals- surrounding Twilight, not stabbing or hitting her with its sharpness, Twilight's eyes widened at the sight. “Underneath the catacombs of the Crystal Empire, makes a good place for a "shadow" like me to rest...isn't that right Princess...and soon, every night I will hunt down every last pony around this Empire, making it mine…” Sombra explains, as he chuckled a little. “I don't have to agree with you.” She scoffs.  Her eyes narrowed at him. “I know my friends are probably looking for me by now.” Twilight’s tone was filled with hope and confidence.  “They'll meet the same fate as you Ms Sparkle, and they will not like the ending of it...as for your daughter, you'll be begging for mercy I tell you…” He said as he neared her face. “Besides you couldn't even save your own relationship with that damn soft hearted tyrant…” He laughed. Twilight eyes widen. “It wasn't even my fault.” she cries out.  “Let's not go to any rational explanations, it's your fault for not being the "strong mare" you really are, you could've done something horrible to that monstrosity of a princess who got your sweet soft hearted husband…” Sombra said, cackling. “Think about it, what would happen if you did something horrible to your mentor… or ex mentor I should say. Then, things could've gone swiftly with you and Discord.Yet you chose to be the strong type of mare...which brings us to this problem you are facing right now...all I wanted was to make you happy…” He grinned at her. Sombra gave her a sincere smile. “So… let me make you happy…” He said, his tone soft.  Twilight scoffed. “I don't even see how somepony like you could make anypony happy.” She said, slightly unamused.  “Don't underestimate me Princess...I could turn your world upside down…” He said as the Crystal's changed color, signifying the feeling he has. The Crystal's changed to color red, revealing anger. Twilight’s eyes widened, tears forming in her eyes as she felt powerless over Sombra’s presence, she sobbed as she remembered her friends in the Crystal cage she was now locked in. “Don't worry my dear, things are about to go downhill real fast…” he laughed at Twilight as he left the chamber, leaving Twilight sobbing to herself. *** Celestia sits in her throne room, deep in thought. She sighs as she looks over papers. Suddenly, a letter appeared in front of her. She unrolls the scroll, reading over it.  Her eyes scanned over it, once… twice. She gasped as she just read.