//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Facing the Pony of Shadows/Reunited with Stygian and Equestria // Story: A Place in Equestria IV: Shadow Play // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// Later on, when they passed the mountainside, Thomas, riding on his mother’s back, saw an abandoned village up ahead. “Hey! There it is! I see it! The Hollow Shades!” He pointed at it up ahead. “I don't remember reading anything that said the Hollow Shades was like this,” Sunburst said. “Me neither,” Twilight said. They all went over to the town for a closer look. “Ohhh. The Pony of Shadows must have twisted it to his purposes,” Mistmane said. As they heard the Pony of Shadows’s evil chuckle echoing, Thomas hid underneath his mother’s mane and shook in fear, while Rarity stroked him softly. “Prepare yourselves. He is here,” Starswirl said, as they walked over to the big hole molded with big bricks. “Stygian! Show yourself and face us!” The Pony of Shadows replied by laughing evilly, and then the surface around the hole started rumbling and cracking, and they all fell into the pit screaming. When they landed, Thomas and the fillies landed onto Rockhoof’s back. “Sorry, Mr. Rockhoof,” Thomas said. “No worries, young lad. Just be glad you’re alright,” Rockhoof replied, as he helped the children climb off and then Thomas went to Fluttershy for a hug. Sunburst groaned, “I definitely would've remembered reading about this.” The Pony of Shadows laughed maniacally as he appeared and sprouted out his wings. “Welcome to the Well of Shade! When you turned your backs on me, I discovered this place. The darkness spoke to me of a power beyond any I could imagine, and I listened. The shadow and I became one. Soon, all of the realm will be the same. Then all ponies will feel the despair I did when you cast me out!” “We did what we had to do. You tried to steal our powers for yourself,” Starswirl said. “No! It was you who were selfish! And now you will pay!” The Pony of Shadows said angrily, until he blasted his magic laser from his horn at the group, until Starswirl formed a force field around them, before it started cracking. “Please tell me I’m not having another bad dream!” Thomas exclaimed. “If you are, now’s the time to wake up!” Starlight said, as she carefully went towards a huge pile of rubble with the kids on her side. “We’ll handle this. Stay here,” she said. Thomas and the girls nodded, and she went back to the group. Starswirl continued to hold the portal open, “Ready? Open the portal...” His force field cracked open. “...Now!” The Pillars and Mane 5 united their magic together with the Elements of Harmony and their magical artifacts to open the portal to limbo, and the Pony of Shadows started getting drawn into the vortex as they all used their magic to push him through. “No! You will not trap me again!” The Pony of Shadows shouted. “Twilight! Starlight! Sunset! Push him in! Hurry!” Starswirl said. Before they would push him in, they saw a pony popping out of the chest of the Pony of Shadows and screaming in pain for help. “Huh? There's... a pony in there!” Thomas said, and he ran into the villain’s chest “Thomas!” Twilight said, as she, Starlight and Sunset went inside. Thomas woke up, and then saw a huge black abyss everywhere, “Hello?” He began to shake, until he saw a dark pink light of magic appear, and then felt something stroking his back. He looked up and saw his Auntie Twilight, until he gasped in fear and turned around to hug his auntie on the chest, until Twilight hugged him back, “It’s alright, bug. We’re here now.” Sunset and Starlight saw a pony that looked like Stygian sitting down in depression with a dark chain wrapped around him. “Stay with your Auntie Starlight and Sunset,” Twilight said, until Thomas nodded in reply and went to Starlight as she brought him over for a hug with both her legs, but wrapped one hoof around him to hold on to. Twilight walked over to Stygian, “Are you... Stygian?” “I was, once. Until my friends betrayed me,” he said. “But the other Pillars said you betrayed them. You wanted their magic...” Sunset said, until Stygian cut her off. “No! I wanted their respect. I brought them together. I planned strategy, and I read all I could about the beasts we faced. But I didn't have magic or strength, so nopony ever noticed me. I went to Ponhenge to make my own copies of the artifacts.” ”With them, I thought I could be a Pillar, too, and stand by their side in battle.” The other Pillars heard what he said and felt guilty about how he felt. ”I never wanted to steal their power.” Starswirl was shocked about what he heard as well. “But instead of sharing and letting me help, my friends threw me out.” Stygian’s voice started to changed into a growling and deepening tone, as Thomas hug his Auntie Starlight’s hoof tightly, until she shushed him softly. “Until something tragic happened to me that twisted my heart and soul with rage and hatred, making me stronger than any of them! The darkness took control of me, and welcomed me until I realized it used me as a vessel, until the slave I am on this day, and now look how well that turned out as it used me to protect itself!” “This is all a misunderstanding! If the Pillars knew how you felt, I'm sure they wouldn't have turned their backs on you. The shadow isn't who you really are. Let me help you be Stygian again,” Twilight said. “Even if my friends did still care, what makes you think you have the power to help me?” Stygian asked. “Because it's what she does,” Sunset said. “Sunset and I weren’t so different from you, and Twilight helped us change,” Starlight said. “If there's one pony in Equestria that can save a friendship, it's her.” Sunset nodded in agreement. “I... I want to believe you...” Stygian said, until the darkness from the Pony of Shadows took control of him painfully. “But the darkness will not be stopped!” The shadows took the three mares out of his body, but Thomas was still inside. After freeing Stygian from his chains, Thomas then helped him out of the shadows, allowing to make an exit for the Pillars and Mane 8 to see. Twilight then used a laser rope from her horn, allowing Thomas and Stygian to grab hold as Thomas tied it around himself and Stygian, and then held onto it. “Argh!” The Pony of Shadows made pained groans. “Fight the darkness, Stygian! You don't need it anymore! Revenge isn't what you want! Friendship is!” Twilight said, as the shadows tried to push Stygian and Thomas back inside, and then growled while Twilight tried to pull as hard as she could. “Twilight!” Starlight and Sunset shouted in unison, and they formed laser ropes with their horns around the loop Thomas made and helped them out. Twilight kept straining while pulling, until the Pony of Shadows made a roaring sound. “Ugh! The shadow won't let go of him. Thomas wants to help Stygian stop, but he can't do it alone,” Twilight said. “Then we must help them!” Starswirl said, as he and Sunburst made laser ropes with their horns, and the others did as well after The Pillars touched the Mane 6’s element necklaces and they formed laser ropes and then they heaved with force, and after both Stygian and Thomas were pulled out, The Pony of Shadows started to burst, crack, and melt. “HE’S GONNA BLOW! RUN!” Rainbow Dash said, as they all got out of there alive while Pony of Shadows roared and screamed, until all of the light magic inside him exploded. Twilight pulled Thomas out by letting him hold onto her tail, and then they all landed outside the well. “Yeah! Oh, it felt sooooo good to do that again!” Rainbow Dash said. “Friendship power rush! Whoo!” Pinkie Pie said, zipping excitedly. Rarity then looked down at her Element of Generosity necklace, “The Elements! They didn't disappear!” “Maybe because we used them for healing magic instead of banishing?” Fluttershy said. “MOMMA!” Thomas said, as he was running over to her. “Thomas! Oh, baby! You’re okay!” Fluttershy said, hugging her son with one hoof. “Look!” Applejack said, as they saw Starswirl helping Stygian out of the well, and then he looked down at him. “Long ago, you needed our help, Stygian. But instead of listening, we turned our backs on you. Pride clouded my judgment. I owe you an apology. Thank you for helping us see the errors of our ways, Twilight. It seems I never accounted for the Magic of Friendship.” “Thank you, Starswirl! But... it wasn’t just me,” Twilight said. Their cutie marks started shimmering, meaning their mission was complete. Thomas tugged Starswirl’s robe, as he looked down at the boy, “See? I told you a conversation can save Equestria, didn’t I?” Starswirl chuckled, and then ruffled his hair with his hoof, “Something tells me I will be making a lot of apologies today. But thanks to your bravery, we also have deep gratitude to offer.” Thomas then nodded with a soft smile and warm blush. Meanwhile, back at Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were pleased to see Starswirl and the Pillars again. “I simply cannot believe how tall you've gotten!” Starswirl said. “Well, it has been over a thousand years. Will you stay here and teach magic once again? My sister and I have such fond memories of your lessons,” Princess Celestia said. “As long as you don't ask for those essays we owed you before you disappeared,” Princess Luna said, until Princess Celestia giggled. Starswirl chuckled, “I'm not certain Canterlot is where I belong. The realm has grown, and I believe I'll have a look around before I settle in any one place.” “And I long to see what has become of my home,” Mage Meadowbrook said. “I believe we all do,” Mistmane said. “Then I hope you will return to Canterlot on occasion and share the wisdom of your great experience with the next generation of ponies,” Princess Celestia said. “We would be honored. But if it is wisdom you seek, look no further than your own pupil’s young lad of a nephew. They, along with his mother, and her friends showed me that the power of friendship is a magical force indeed. And that in turning away from others, you hurt yourself as well,” Starswirl said, as they all formed a group hug for Stygian. “It's funny. I thought meeting my idol would give me all the answers I ever wanted. But instead, I forgot what I already knew. Good thing I had a student of my own to remind me,” Twilight said, until she looked at Thomas, who was already sleeping. “Along with a certain nephew of ours.” She then held him on her hoof against her chest and then formed a hug with Starlight.