//------------------------------// // Chapter 28 // Story: The Darkness Shard // by OliverSparkle //------------------------------// Lightning Twister was walking through a dark path that was filled with crystals as he was in the caves that was beneath the School of Friendship. He looking around while walking still and feeling scared since he was all alone. “Hello?” He called out in fear, “Anypony? Smolder? Silverstream? Gallus? Are you guys here?” No one answered, and that made Lightning even more scared as he was afraid of the dark and he remembered the last time he was in the caves beneath the school. Ever since Cozy Glow locked him in the caves and seeing the shadow of The Storm King, he hoped he would never go back in the caves again. Just then, he heard shouting coming the distance. He looked forward and saw pony and creature shadows moving from the light that was coming from the open part of the caves. Not sure what was going next, but Lightning ran to where the light was and entered an area where what he saw next made him go into shock and worried. There he saw his Auntie Starlight trapped in a bubble with the six items around the circle and the students trying to take the young six away, thinking they were the ones behind the magic failing, as they try to break free but suddenly ended up trapped into the bubble one by one while trying to save each other. “Guys!” Lightning shouted in fear and worriedly. Lightning tried to run to save his friends and aunt, but he was blocked by a invisible force field keeping him from entering the scene. He tried to push the field to break through it, but it wasn’t good. “No!” Lightning said before banging his hooves on the field, “No, no, no!” Just then, a black hole appeared from beneath the bubble and began to suck the bubble in, with Starlight and the young six trapped inside, as it was the last hour of the magic being gone forever. As for the students, they walked away under Cozy Glow’s order, as she grinned while flying with them, leaving the two ponies and five creatures to disappear with the magic into the black hole. “No!” Tears of fear started to form in Lightning’s eyes, “Auntie Starlight! Smolder! Silverstream, don’t go! Don’t leave me!” But it wasn’t any good. They couldn’t hear his voice, and the bubble was now inside the black hole as it closed with the items and the circle disappearing as well leaving nothing but just an empty area. “No! I-It can’t have happened! This didn’t happened!” Suddenly, the area started to fade into dark. The dark then turned into a throne room with dark walls and pillars, broken windows and a torn up dark red carpet. Lightning looked around before seeing Vanitas and Cozy Glow, wearing a outfit like Vanitas’s but with a School of Friendship symbol on the chest, sitting on two thrones grinning evilly at the scared colt. Lightning let out a scream in fear. “N-No! No!” Cozy Glow got off her throne and walked towards Lightning. “You’re not one of them, Lightning Twister,” she said as it echoed, “You’re one of us!” The evil filly laughed evilly while it echoed everywhere as tears streamed down Lightning’s face. The scared colt covered his face with his hooves not wanting to see or know what’s going to happen next. Silverstream was asleep until she heard whimpering which made her stir before slowly waking up. Smolder slowly woke up too after hearing whimpering. The two looked at Lightning and saw him whimpering in his sleep with tears rolling down his face. They knew he was having another nightmare. “H-Help!” Lightning started to toss and turn in his sleep which made Smolder and Silverstream break the bed cuddle, “N-No! No! S-Smolder! Silverstream! A-Auntie S-Starlight!” “Hey, hey. Shhh…” whispered Smolder softly. “S-Smolder! S-Silverstream!” Lightning cried as he was now awake but still had his eyes closed and crying. “It’s okay, cutie,” said Silverstream softly while carefully picking the colt up with her claws, “I’m here. I’ve got you. Let’s calm you down.” Silverstream sat on the edge of the bed as she gently rested Lightning’s head on her fur chest. She wrapped her talon arms around him and gently rubbed his colt with her claw. Lightning buried his face in Silverstream’s chest while still crying. “It was just a bad dream, sweetie,” said the pink hippogriff quietly in the colt’s ear. The scared colt continued to cry with his face still buried in Silverstream’s chest. Silverstream didn’t know how long this was going to be, but she refuses to let her little friend cry and be scared of the nightmare. “Shhh…Did Cozy Glow scare you again?” “D-Don’t…don’t l-leave m-me!” Lightning cried. “We’re not going to leave you, cutie,” said Silverstream softly, “I promise you that. It’s just a bad dream. I’m here.” “S-Silverstream!” “I’m here, Lightning.” Fluttershy was awake and heard the crying coming from her son, but she didn’t turn over on the bed to see what was going on as she frowned from the sound of her baby crying from another nightmare. She was worried about that this may go on even longer if they get to the Tree of Life in time to save Lightning. Lightning’s crying slowly turned to sobbing as Silverstream continued to comfort him. “It’s okay, cutie. We’re gonna help get through this. I promise.” The sobbing slowly turned into sniffles. Lightning still had tears in his eyes, but Silverstream gently brushed them away with her claw before continuing to stroke the colt’s back. “Do you want me to get somepony?” Silverstream asked softly. Lightning sniffled before saying, “A-Auntie S-Starlight.” Silverstream turned to Smolder who gave her a nod to say we better go see Starlight as they got off the bed and went to the bed Sunburst and Starlight were sleeping in. Starlight was asleep in bed, with Sunburst next to her, until she felt a tap on her shoulder. She stirred before slowly opening her eyes and letting out a yawn. Starlight got up as she sat on the bed with the covers falling off her and landing on her back hooves. “What…what’s going on?” Asked Starlight tiredly while rubbing her eyes. She turned her head to the left and saw Smolder and Silverstream standing near the bed as she also saw her nephew being held in Silverstream’s talon arm with tears in his eyes. This made her less tired and more worried about the colt. “What happened?” “Lightning had another nightmare that had us and you in,” explained Smolder, “And he wanted to see if you were still here.” “Oh honey,” said Starlight sadly. She got off the bed and walked towards Lightning who was reaching her hooves out to her. The unicorn gently picked the colt from Silverstream’s talon arm and hugged her poor nephew with his head resting on her chest. “It’s okay. I’m still here. Nothing has happened to me.” Lightning sniffled before saying, “B-But you and m-my f-friends were trapped in t-that b-bubble a-and disappeared w-with the magic.” “Shhh…it was only bad dream, sweetheart,” whispered Starlight softly, “It didn’t happen. Yes we were trapped, but we were free thanks to the Tree of Harmony. She saved your friends and they broke the circle so the magic can return and free me as well.” Starlight gently brushed the remaining tears in Lightning’s eyes, “It’s all going to okay, honey. Nothing like that will happen to us again.” “P-Promise?” Starlight smiled softly. “Yes, I promise.” Lightning slowly started to fall back to sleep. Starlight carefully gave Lightning to Smolder as she wrapped her arms around him and gently resting his head on her chest. Starlight suddenly noticed that Lightning was starting to worry again, so she gently rubbed his mane while softly saying, “It’s okay, honey. Just go back to sleep, and I promise you, when you wake up, I’ll still be around and just fine.” Lightning heard his auntie’s voice and slowly calmed his worries. Starlight gave her nephew a gentle kiss on the cheek. Smolder and Silverstream went back to bed, with the sleeping colt resting in the dragon’s arms, as Starlight climbed back into bed, magically pulled the covers over her and went back to sleep. Smolder slowly and carefully climbed into bed, without waking or dropping her boyfriend. Silverstream climbed into bed last as she carefully pulled the covers over them before gently wrapping her talon arms around the dragon and colt to keep him warm and safe. Lightning nuzzled Smolder’s chest to get more cozy and so he was close to his girlfriend as possible. Smolder and Silverstream each gave Lightning a gentle kiss on the forehead before laying their heads on the pillow and went straight back to sleep. Lightning was in another nightmare as he was in a dark place that was filled with darkness. Dark smokes flew around him which made shake in fear with tears forming in his eyes. “N-No! N-Not a-again!” He said in fear. The poor colt covered his face with his hooves while still shaking in fear with the dark smokes continuing to fly around him. He was scared to see what was going to happen next in the nightmare he was now in. “P-Please! S-Stop! M-Momma! Princess L-Luna! S-Smolder! S-Silverstream! Anypony h-help m-me!” The dark smokes continued to flow until it disappeared by a dark blue grasp and made the entire dark area faded into a dreamscape. Lightning still had his face covered and was still shaking in fear, until he heard a familiar voice that sung to him. Come Little Children I'll Take Thee Away, Into A Land Of Enchantment Come Little Children The Time's Come To Play Here In My Garden Of Shadows Lightning moved his hooves from his face and stood back up as he started to look around to see where the singing was coming. Follow Sweet Children I'll Show Thee the Way Through All The Pain And The Sorrow Weep Not Poor Children For Life Is This Way Murdering Beauty And Passions Lightning saw Princess Luna appearing in a flash of light as she walked towards the colt while singing softly to him. Hush Now Dear Children It Must Be This Way Too Weary Of Life And Deceptions Rest Now My Children For Soon We'll Away Into The Calm And The Quiet Princess Luna gently placed a wing over Lightning and smiled softly at him. She then used her horn to magically turn the dreamscape into a dream she has made to keep Lightning safe during the night. The ground turned into soft green grass with colourful flowers and the background turned in a beautiful blue sky with the sun shining. All of this made Lightning smile again, but what made Lightning smile even more was seeing his friends, girlfriend and family appearing in a flash of light all smiling at him and waiting for him to join in the fun. Lightning looked at the moon princess who continued to smile at him as she gave him a nod to say he can go enjoy the dream. She lifted her wing and watched the colt run towards the others and enjoying the dream fun. Come Little Children I'll Take Thee Away, Into A Land Of Enchantment Come Little Children The Time's Come To Play Here In My Garden Of Shadows Princess Luna continued to watch Lightning happily playing with his friends, girlfriend and family while smiling still. Outside the dream, Princess Luna was finishing fixing her dream for Lightning as the light beam went into Lightning’s head. Luna smiled at the colt before gently stroking his mane. “This is all for you, Lightning,” said Princess Luna softly but quietly. In the throne room of Darkness’s castle, Grindelwald was staring out of the window. He was the only one in the room until he notices someone else was behind him. “So why are you here?” Grindelwald asked as it was revealed to be Chrysalis who was now in the room with him. Chrysalis was annoyed by the tone Grindelwald did while asking that question, so she just replied with, “Nice way to greet one of the members of this legion.” Grindelwald scowled. “Why did Darkness bring you to the team?” Asked Grindelwald before turning to face the evil changeling, “He must know you and the other two backstabbed Grogar when he had his legion.” “Darkness doesn’t care about me or Cozy Glow,” answered Chrysalis, “To him, we’re just villains that want revenge on those ones that ruined our lives. He does a point on that. But that Grogar wasn’t even alive to begin with, just so you know. He was just Discord in disguise while the real Grogar is unknown.” “Yeah,” said a young female voice, “That Lord of Chaos couldn’t keep his disguise on when we took his power. He should have played smart, like I did.” Chrysalis and Grindelwald turned and saw Cozy Glow walking into the room as she smiled cutely and waved at them. Chrysalis still hated the filly, even when working with her once, so she was well annoyed to see her again. “What?! You’re not smart! You were literally sent to Tartarus twice!” “Well, it is true what they all say, I don’t have to be smart too much.” “Or capable, or likeable, or even attractive. A diamond dog would have made a better member.” “Whoa, less of the insults now,” said Cozy Glow, “I am everypony’s favourite filly…when I want to be. Which is, always.” Chrysalis was really starting to get annoyed by Cozy Glow. No wonder Lord Tirek hated her a lot. “Anyways, why haven’t you gone to stop our enemies yet?” “Simple, I’m just waiting for my moment,” answered Chrysalis, “And so I don’t get into trouble like you did.” “Hey!” Shouted Cozy Glow angrily. “Darkness brought Doctor Robotink on board,” said Grindelwald getting Chrysalis and Cozy Glow’s attention, “He must be planning to use machines that no other wizard, witch or even a muggle have seen before.” “Metal machines?” Cozy Glow asked confusedly. “If they are, then hopefully we’ll get a member to take her spot,” said Chrysalis while grinning at the filly. “Hey!” Cozy said angrily as Chrysalis laughed. “The machines Robotink is making won’t be anything like us,” said Grindelwald, “They’ll most likely be similar to those that helped me to make the Wizarding World go to war with the muggles.” “And like the students when I was running the School of Friendship.” “If Darkness wants more help in getting that colt, then why did he made her a member of this team?” Chrysalis asked while pointing at Cozy Glow which she was not happy about. “Hey! Pointing is rude!” “Because,” answered Grindelwald, “He wants you all in for another purpose, that’s different to the one Discord had for you.” “What? So we can rot away in the badlands?” Said a male voice. A dark corridor appeared and disappeared to reveal Lord Tirek in his medium size form with his body was red, his horns were a little more pointy and his muscles were strong. “Ugh! You’re still in? What is this? Reunion of doom?” Chrysalis still hated Tirek, even during their last team up. “I happen to have an important role,” said Tirek, “No one stopped me after going off to stop our enemies.” “You were listening?” Cozy Glow asked crossly, knowing that he heard she got into trouble with Darkness, “So not nice.” “Says the filly who lied to a bunch of ponies and blamed everything on one pony and his friends.” “What role?” Chrysalis asked, “That power from the Lion Guard and Night Pride that Darkness claims it’s real but won’t tell us a thing about?” “You just have to ask him that.” Tirek turned to Grindelwald, “Now then, Grindelwald, what is this “purpose”? Surely you don’t plan to backstab Darkness when we’re unable to do that to him, even with us.” “You three are going to learn who Darkness really is,” said the dark wizard, “He asked me to reveal his true identity to you.” Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow looked at Grindelwald in surprised after hearing what he just as he chuckled.