//------------------------------// // Mysterious Shadows // Story: Diamonds of Stardust // by Lulamoon-Crystal //------------------------------// Trixie trotted proudly through Manehattan for a few hours hoping to find the diamond, due to having her wagon she had to stay on the road, it was a bit busy with ponies rushing to other places, but she was meant to go slow and look carefully anyway. She walked through, keeping an eye on the roofs and ground, she had an urge that something was wrong but kept moving. She made a turn down a narrow road with buildings in either side, ponies galloped away with faces full of fear. Trixie took a step and a stallion seemed to appear out of nowhere, making her jump a little. ”Excuse me, ma’am” he spoke with a British accent, “There’s been something down there that’s making the whole city uneasy, nopony knows why, but we are all getting out of this avenue just in case it’s dangerous” ”Trixie doesn’t fear a thing!” She laughed. The unicorn stallion shook his head, “I guess I cannot stop you, please be careful” Trixie rolled her eyes, “Such a scaredy-cat” she thought. As she walked along the narrow road the more unsure she was, she found herself shivering slightly, the air felt cold and lonely. Ponies became fewer and fewer as she walked down the road, shops weren’t open at all, despite still being in business they had an abandoned feel to them, she could easily picture graffiti and broken windows as if they were abandoned for years. Her stomach urged her to go back, but she kept moving along the road. She hardly saw any ponies, and when she did, they were in a hurry and their face were full of fear. ”Oooooo” Trixie lifted her head in shock, as she wondered what that ominous noise was a freezing chill went down her spine when she heard that noise. Then she started to feel some cold sweat run down her face. The sound seemed to be down the end of the avenue, Trixie gulped in fear, she felt cold as she stood there. The end seemed to be a dark abyss, she couldn’t see beyond it. ”Ooooo” The strange noise happened again, it just sounded so ghostly and left a cold feeling in Trixie whenever it happened, her mouth felt dry as she questioned if this was the right choice or not. “C-c’mon T-Trixie, it’s p-properly just your imagination,” She whispered, hoping to convince herself to move. Clouds covered the sky above for some mysterious reason, or it could have been smoke. Trixie took some breaths as her heart raced, she stared into the darkness at the other end. ”Ooooooo” It happened again, she shivered, she tried to move her legs, but they wouldn’t move, it was as if they were encased in ice. More sweat dripped down, and she started to feel warm. Her stomach felt heavy as she forced her right hind leg forward, she took a breath, the air felt cold. She then forced her legs to obey her as she put her right foreleg forward. “Oooooooo” Each time she lifted a hoof it shook, her teeth slightly chattered a little. There was no sound other than that creepy noise, she was wondering why she was going towards it while all the others just ran away. Her mouth dribbled a little, she looked ahead and stared at the seemingly black abyss in front of her, it was just a few stores away, she shivered as if she was in the snow. ”Ooooooo” It was getting louder, Trixie took a step and blinked, then she opened her eyes the black abyss looking thing was gone and a very old grey brick wall was in its place. She stepped back, her heart started to race and her stomach seemed to jump, she didn’t hear herself gasp. There was no noise, time seemed to have stopped as Trixie didn’t hear, feel or see any movement. It seemed to have gone for a while until any noise was made. ”Oooooo” ”H-hello?” Trixie asked in a hushed tone, she was surprised how shaky her voice was. Well, in fact her whole body was a bit shaky, she heard a slight ruffle in the distance and jumped in fright, she swallowed a huge amount of her saliva. Her back and mane were wet from her sweat, she shivered coldly, but the air still felt chilling. ”Oooooo” “A-anypony?” She whispered, “Y-you can come out” Trixie shook her head and lifted her head, trying to look like she wasn’t scared. ”I-I’m the g-great and powerful Trixie, and I am also un-scareable!” She shouted, there was no following noise, not even an echo, “Y-you don’t scare me!” ”Ooooooo” She shivered a bit more as she approached the wall, it looked worn down slightly, there were many cracks and chucks that were weathered away. Trixie didn’t notice a small alley to her right, blocked by a wooden gate that was closed. Trixie touched the wall, hoping it would do something. Sweat still went down her face, but she smiled, she knew she could do it. “Trixie is never scared of silly shadows!” Then there was a deep booming voice, the wooden gate creaked open. It made her jump a bit, she want prepared for what was about to happen next. 🌫🌫🌫 Gumdrop walked with Derpy through the city, they both had a smoothie held in their foreleg as they walked. It was time to return to the train station, so that was where they were going. “Gee, I hope Trixie‘s having better luck” Gumdrop hoped. ”Yeah!” Derpy agreed before tripping over. Her smoothie spilled all over the ground, she sighed sadly as Gumdrop helped her up. ”Are you okay, Derpy?” She asked. ”Yeah, I’m fine, it happens a lot anyway, I just don’t know what went wrong,” Derpy replied. Gumdrop smiled, “It’s okay, everyone makes mistakes, as long as you’re okay” She then looked at a clock on top of a building, “We really should hurry, Trixie‘s possibly waiting for us and wondering where I am” Derpy nodded and led the way, she walked in front, Gumdrop looked around and sighed. There were ponies that didn’t really care about a griffin walking around, but a bunch of them shot glares that hit like daggers, one pony even threw a used but empty food container at her. She really felt unwelcome, and it made her grudge with Trixie tighter. “I’m disappointed in Trixie...” She sighed. ”Really?” Derpy asked, “I’m sure you can find a place in your heart to forgive her” ”I hope so” Gumdrop sighed, “I knew separating was a bad idea, it’s like she wants me to get hurt, I’m so thankful I met a kindhearted mare like you” Derpy also smiled, “That’s so nice, I don’t often get nice things told to me because of my eyes” They were a little late so they were expecting Trixie to be a little annoyed, and to hopefully have the next diamond with her. Gumdrop was ready to be lectured by Trixie on how late she was and that she was supposed to meet them in four hours, she’d apologise of course. When they arrived Gumdrop already had planned what she was going to say. “Trixie! I can expl-“ Gumdrop started only to see the lack of her. ”Uh, Trixie?” Derpy said as she looked around with her head. In front of the train station the two looked left and right and up and down for any sign of Trixie or her iconic purple wagon. They even waited a few minutes as ponies walked past and moved around, there was no sign of either, Gumdrop started to panic hoping she was okay. Derpy flew up to see of there was simply something blocking her from their sight on the ground. “I don’t see her...” Gumdrop said slightly worried, “Any luck, Derpy?” Derpy was in the sky scanning the area around the train station from above, “Nope!” Gumdrop started to panic, “She’s not here! Where is she? She is hurt? Is she lost!? Is she okay!?” She looked around and called, out her name a few times, but there was no response. Gumdrop felt a pit in her stomach, she couldn’t believe it, she was expecting her to be at the train station. Derpy was worried for her new friend, she tried to cheer her up. “Maybe she’s just running a little late?” Derpy suggested. ”We are ten minutes late! She surely should be here!” Gumdrop explained. Then a screech from a falcon filled the air, it was Bolt! She landed in front of the two and screeched loudly. ”Bolt, what brings you here?,” Gumdrop asked hoping it was just a letter from Trixie saying she was running late and was hurrying. Bolt pointed her wing into the direction Trixie went when she and Gumdrop split ways, Gumdrop looked over into the distance. It took a while for it to click that Bolt was possibly referring to Trixie. “Where is Trixie? Is she okay?” She asked concern in her voice. She gasped when Bolt shook her head indicating a ‘no’, she watched as Bolt used her wing to gesture the two to follow her, she went into the sky and circled them. Gumdrop swallowed a ball of spit, she couldn’t believe her eyes, Trixie was in a danger, well actually just in danger according to her. ”You want us to follow? I don’t think I can fly... it’s been a really long time,” Gumdrop said sadly, “There is no hope in my wings” Gumdrop looked at her wing, despite the bandage being removed the day before it still was not looking good, feathers were missing. Derpy looked at her wing. She knew that Gumdrop would be able to fly, for a while at least. ”I can help, I’m not a very good flyer, but I can try,” Derpy replied as she fluttered her wings and went into the air. Gumdrop looked at her and sighed, “There is no hope in my wings... besides, wherever Trixie is... we’ll properly be too late and... she’ll be-“ ”Not with that attitude, it’s a worth a try, doesn’t matter how hard it looks,” Derpy explained with courage. “I guess so...” Gumdrop sighed as she lifted her wings, “Uh... I think I forgot what to do...” She sighed. Derpy looked at her, “Try copying my wings!” ”fine...” Gumdrop sighed, she flipped her wings and went into the air, the two flew higher than the buildings, Gumdrop almost fell but she managed to go back up, then Bolt approached them. ”Alright, lead the way, Bolt!” Gumdrop said with worry. The two followed Bolt over and between buildings as they flew near the end of the city Bolt led them down to the entrance of a very narrow road, there was a pink building on one side of the start of the road. The sky above the narrow road was dark and there was no sign of life, Gumdrop shook a bit in fear. ”S-she’s in h-here!?” Gumdrop asked hopelessly, “I don’t think she’s okay... she’s totally dead, we are all dead!” Just by looking into the avenue they both had foreboding feelings. ”There is no way this’ll go well” Gumdrop sighed hopelessly. She turned around and started to walk away. ”Its no use... she’s... there is no way... if it’s a monster she’s possibly in pieces by now... I don’t want to see the dead body of someone I failed to save... for the second time” Derpy watched her with sorrow, she didn’t say anything. Gumdrop started to feel worse, “But I failed to save my own brother... This is no way I can save her...” Derpy walked up to her, “But you have to try, she needs out help” ”I guess,” Sighed Gumdrop as she turned around realising something, “She saved me, she didn’t have to, she could have just walked away and left me to die...but she went out of her way to save me... she did it... now... it’s my turn to return the favour, I have to save her... in the frightening avenue... I just hope... she’s alive” 🌫🌫🌫 Derpy took a step back, She sweated slightly, “I-I’m scared too but we have each other!” The two took quick breaths, Gumdrop looked down toward the end and saw Trixie‘s wagon alone near a grey brick wall. They walked down the narrow road, they didn’t hear any sound but they felt some cold sweat. “Trixie?” Gumdrop whispered, “Are you down here?” There was no reply, the lack of noise made them wonder if Trixie was still alive. But there was a feeling in Gumdrop’s gut that told her that Trixie was no longer alive. ”She’s dead...” Whispered Gumdrop, “There’s no use, she is dead, we are all dead” ”I-I’m not sure she is...” Derpy whispered, “Maybe she might still be okay” When around halfway down they both heard a loud chilling scream that rang through their ears, it was Trixie‘s scream. They both jumped, and coldness shot down their spines, Gumdrop shouted loudly. ”Trixie!” As they both dashed towards the end the sky cleared up, Gumdrop frantically looked into the window of the wagon, nopony was inside. They all looked around and saw a small ally, the ground was grey cement and the walls were grey brick. Trixie stood shaking in the middle facing away from them, she slowly stepped back in fear. Trixie whimpered a bit in fear, she walked backwards to her two confused friends, she didn’t hear or notice her friends behind her. ”Trixie, are you okay?” Whispered Gumdrop. Trixie backed up into Derpy and yelped in fear she bucked Derpy as hard as she could and turned around, her eyes were wide open and she had a face fully of fear. “I’m okay...” Derpy said as she laid on the ground. Gumdrop helped her up and scanned her for injuries. Trixie took a few deep breaths and sighed. ”It’s just you...” Trixie looked nervous, the look on her face confirmed she was hiding something. Gumdrop looked into the alley, “Are you okay? Did you see something?” ”No, I’m fine,” Trixie sighed. Trixie’s head hung low and her ears were back in a fearful way, she buckled her wagon back on and started to walk towards the exit of the roadway . Derpy and Gumdrop noticed that she occasionally looked back behind her wagon as they walked along, a light piece of paper litter gently touched her hoof as it waved with the breeze, she took her hoof back in fright. ”Trixie? You seem more jumpy,” Said Gumdrop with concern. ”I’m fine... It’s nothing to worry about” Gumdrop and Derpy looked at each other as they all started walking out the avenue, they both knew she was hiding something from them.