//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 
// Story: Torch in the Dark 
// by RevvEmUp 
//------------------------------//

The six heroes plus drone close in on Torch’s schnoz, stopping before the smoke seeping from his nostrils. “No doubt the Robot and this parasite samurai will show themselves. When they do, combat team will keep them busy, and the rest of us will stand by until we get an opening.” Twilight Sparkle advised.

“Got it!” her friends acknowledged.

Within the smoke, they hear the sound of metal scraping through gravel. Emerging from the smoke is a tall man wearing copper armour reminiscent of a spiky desert lizard branded with a crescent gash on the chest, with a helmet bearing teal eyes, a curved forehead horn, and a hateful scowl, dragging a katana along the gravel.

“The samurai…” Rainbow Dash hissed.

“Last I checked, samurai armour doesn’t look like that … if it is armour.” Flash Sentry noted, pointing out how lifelike, yet stiff the face is.

Upon first sight, the Bug backs away from the Samurai.

“You must be the Samurai the Bug warned us about.” Twilight Sparkle greeted the Samurai.

“An’ perhaps the varmint who casted a monster spell on us last Halloween?” Applejack added.

“[We finally meet, my little cuties. And you’ve brought back my toy. How thoughtful.]” the Samurai spoke Japanese with a suave young man’s voice.

“Uh, anyone know Japanese?” Sunset Shimmer asked her friends.

She gains confused looks from her friends, but a pincer-raise from the Bug.

“Not much help since ya can’t talk.” Applejack told her, to which the Bug lowers her pincer.

Twilight Sparkle steps up towards the Samurai with a fierce look. “We don’t understand what you’re saying, but we’re here for Torch. He doesn’t belong to you.”

“[I want my toy back. She’s my precious collector’s item.]” the Samurai points to the Bug.

“Did he say collector’s item?” Flash Sentry repeated.

“He must see Torch and the Bug as toys.” Twilight Sparkle realized.

“’Cept he ain’t his toy, that’s Ember’s pa.” Applejack added.

“Step outta the way, Samurai, or we’ll make you!” Sunset Shimmer threatened with her sabre thrusted.

“[I don’t like your tone.]” the Samurai takes from his belt a red chakram with a blue, winged edge-grip. When he raises it, four shadowy shapes swoop in to deliver an explosive tossing the heroes off their feet.

As they pick each other up, the shapes stack up to form the Robot, armed with an arm-mounted artillery cannon. “Murder. Kill.”

“She’s got a gun!” Rainbow Dash pointed.

“[Like the upgrade? You were playing so rough with her before, I had to find replacement pieces.]”

“C’mon, let’s pony up!” Sunset Shimmer rallied her friends as she clutches her Geode.

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack do the same, shining brightly with magic as they gain pony ears, their hair extends into long ponytails, and Rainbow Dash sprouts Pegasus wings from her back. They pose epically before the Samurai, and Flash Sentry joins with an impromptu boxing stance.

“[Ah! Horse ears! So cuuute!]” the Samurai cooed, sounding creepily obsessive.

“Rainbow, Bug, take on the Robot, and watch out for its new gun.” Twilight Sparkle instructed them. She spots a silver band below the Robot’s head, believing it’s the mind-control collar. “And aim for the device below its head.”

Sunset Shimmer focuses on crescent gash, deducing it to be his weak point. “I’ll take the Samurai. I know just where to strike.”

“’Til we get an openin’, we’re right behind ya!” Applejack said as she stands with Twilight Sparkle, Flash Sentry, and Lil Flash.

“[Attack!]” the Samurai commanded the Robot as the heroes rush at them.

“Murder. Kill.” The Robot aims at Rainbow Dash, but she quickly kicks its behind, allowing the Bug to teleport and elbow its screen-chest before scratching its face with her pincers.

“Looks like you busted her shields last time. Doesn’t look so tough now!” Rainbow Dash confidently told the Bug.

The Robot aims its cannon at the Bug, but Rainbow Dash pries it away. Seeing an opening, the Bug goes for another pincer slash, but the Robot kicks it away before pulling its cannon back from Rainbow Dash, slinging her away with great force. Before she can hit the gravel, the Bug teleports and catches her.

“Thanks.” Rainbow Dash nodded before dodging an incoming shell. “Now, where were we?” she confidently pops her neck before rushing at it.

“En garde!” Sunset Shimmer and the Samurai exchange swings, engaging in a rapid clash of blades, sending sparks and sparkles flying across the gravel with each slash.

“[You think you can fight with that toothpick?]” he cackled before forcing her sabre down to kick her in the chest, sending her stumbling backwards. “[How cute.]” he mocked as he clutches his chin.

When Sunset Shimmer returns a thrust towards his chest, the Samurai goes for the defensive, blocking her thrust and spinning around to parry it away.

As the fight rages on, the unbuckling team gets ready for an opening. When Sunset Shimmer successfully pushes the Samurai into a rock away from a straight path to Torch, they dash past her.

The Samurai spots them while effortlessly deflecting Sunset Shimmer’s swings and thrusts. “Oh?” he cooed before turning his attention to Sunset Shimmer. “[Do you want to know something funny? I’ve been holding back.]” he said teasingly as his katana emanates with dark aura.

Sunset Shimmer is slashed away with such great force her diamond sabre shatters and she’s launched towards the Bug, slamming both into a rock wall on the other side of the quarry.

“Sun—!” Twilight Sparkle cried before she and the team are pushed aside by the turbulence of a speedy copper blur. The force was so powerful she and Applejack pony-down and Lil Flash is blown off-course.

When Rainbow Dash assesses this situation, the copper blur dashes to her side as the Samurai, quickly tackling her to the ground. He grabs her neck and holds her up as she struggles to get herself free. “Gak! Let… go… me!”

“[Pink girl, come out if you value your friends’ lives!]”



From the clifftop, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and the dogs couldn’t help but watch as the Samurai decimate their friends almost instantly. “I can’t believe it…” Rarity stammered.

“They… lost…” Spike muttered in disbelief.

“All that noise and they didn’t even wake my dad.” Ember mumbled in terrified awe.

“Sitting here doing nothing won’t get us anywhere!” Pinkie Pie stood up. She opens her jacket and takes the pistol. “I gotta save my friends!” Rarity stops her, cupping her hands over the slide.

“No! There must be another way! Anything but using that wretched weapon!” Rarity pleaded to Pinkie Pie.

Suddenly, an explosive round hits the cliffside, crumbling the rock and causing everyone to plummet to their doom. “Aaah!” Fluttershy screamed as she freezes in pure shock.

“No, not like this!” Spike shrieked.

“Hold on, Spike!” Ember hugs onto Spike suddenly.

“Rarity!” Pinkie Pie reaches to Rarity screaming and hugs her tight. She feels the air suddenly slow down around her, and opens her eyes to see sheer darkness surrounding her and Rarity, as if trapped in a bubble. It then pops, revealing she’s sitting safely on the gravel, as is everyone else.

“What… happened?” Rarity wondered.

Then, she sees the Man of Shadows forming from smoke beside her. “Did… did you save us?” Pinkie Pie asked the Man of Shadows.

“I… think… I… did…” the Man of Shadows answered, sounding confused at itself.

Pinkie Pie and Rarity look around, seeing their injured friends scattered all over the battlefield; Rainbow Dash lying face-flat in the gravel, the unbuckling team knocked out with the drone lying broken on Flash Sentry’s body, and Sunset Shimmer is buried beneath the Bug’s body in front of the impact crater in the wall.

“[Hello there, child of light.]” Pinkie Pie turns to this voice to see the Samurai and the Robot march towards them, throwing Rainbow Dash aside onto the gravel like a broken doll.

“Those eyes… it’s the parasite!” Ember realized.

“[Oh? You must be the little dragon. You look different. Did you get a haircut?]” the Samurai wiggles his fingers tauntingly at Ember.

Ember growls and tries to get at him, but Fluttershy holds her back for her safety.

“You…” Pinkie Pie hissed at the Samurai as she steps forward. “You’re behind all of this. Kidnapping Torch, turning those girls into monsters, and destroying the city!”

“[Did you like them? Those are precious toys from my collection. Hopefully, if we make this quick, Torch shall join them!]” the Samurai pointed at her, cackling.

Seeing him laugh at his misdeeds, Pinkie Pie picks up her pistol from the ground. As she motions to aim at the Samurai, Rarity stops in front of her. “If you do, you can’t be stopped! Not even the Man of Shadows can keep you down!”

Pinkie Pie gives Rarity an assuring hand to her shoulder. “Rarity… I’ve been trying to tell everyone something. I realized why I lose control. It’s because when I see my friends hurt, or even losing them like Juggler, I wanted nothing but to hurt whoever was responsible, and those bad vibes react with the darkness.” She explained sadly. “But when I focus on the friends I still have, my hate turns into the determination to protect them.” She gave a smile. “I won’t give into the darkness again, and instead I’ll light the hope we’ll all smile again tomorrow.”

“Light… the… hope…” Upon hearing those words, the Man of Shadows hands Pinkie Pie a dark magazine. “Super… beyond…”

“Like you said: the darkness may be strong, but I’m stronger.” Pinkie Pie told Rarity. “I’ll hold off the Samurai while you, Fluttershy, Spike and Ember save everyone. Got it?”

Rarity looks unsure, until she looks into Pinkie Pie’s sincere eyes, and acquiesces with a sigh. “Go get him, and good luck.” Rarity told her before taking Fluttershy and the dogs away.

Pinkie Pie focuses an intense gaze at the Samurai as she stretches her limbs and pops her joints. “Watch out, samurai. I’m gonna blast ya back to the feudal ages!” she declared as she points her pistol.

“[Oya! Time for real fun!]” the Samurai poses his katana in reverse-grip in front of his chest.

Giving a smirk, Pinkie Pie directs her pistol into the air. “Bang!” she pulls the trigger, unleashing a dark force that shapes her body into a tall, muscular form with large, determined white eyes, and no longer bearing dark wings on its shoulders. Additionally, a diamond-shaped crack in its chest lets out light from inside its body. “This isn’t the power of darkness…” the Man of Shadows drones with Pinkie Pie’s voice as it clutches the light emanating from its chest. “…This is the power of smiles!”

“[It seems the light has begun to pierce the darkness.]” the Samurai hones his blade before pointing it at the Man of Shadows. “[Get the humans. I’ll have fun with this one.]” he commanded the Robot.

“Murder. Kill.” The Robot affirmatively marches towards the others as the Samurai rushes the Man of Shadows.

In response to the incoming threat, the Man of Shadows’ arm transforms into a blade. “Man of Shadows, let’s save my… our friends.” Pinkie Pie called to the other voice.

“Let’s… do… something… nice…” The Samurai runs to them and they clash their blades, producing a shockwave on impact that tosses up the surrounding gravel. They trade blows with their swords, each spreading sparks and shockwaves with every hit.

As they fight, Pinkie Pie notices the gash on the Samurai’s chest. “That must be his weak spot.” She noted before the Samurai takes advantage of her distraction and swings from under. The Man of Shadows jumps high, flipping over behind the Samurai to slash his back.

“[Impressive. You surely are not the amateur I thought you were.]” the Samurai groans as he regains his footing.

“Kitto… kitto… a… ki… to…” the Man of Shadows’ voice spoke again.

“What’d you say?” Pinkie Pie asked the voice before catching another incoming slash.



As Rarity, Fluttershy, and the dogs search for their fallen friends, they first pick up Rainbow Dash not far from the battle. “Are you okay, Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked her.

“Guh! I never knew he’s as fast as me! Gak!” Rainbow Dash coughed as she caresses her neck.

“Can you walk?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yeah, he didn’t go for my legs.”

They move on to recover the unbuckling team, who are thankfully faring much better. “Twilight, you’re okay!” Spike perked up as Twilight Sparkle catches him in her arms.

“Glad you’re okay, too, Spike.”

“Applejack, how are you doing?” Rarity asked her.

“Think he sprained my arm!” Applejack groaned in pain.

As Flash Sentry gets up, he finds his drone sitting on his chest. “Lil Flash, you alright?” he asked the drone.

In response, the drone’s rotors spin up.

As they stand up, they see the Man of Shadows awakened to fight the Samurai. “Pinkie… How could this happen again?” Twilight Sparkle said in horror.

“Don’t worry, Pinkie Pie’s working together with the Man of Shadows to protect us.” Fluttershy assured her.

“It even saved us from a fall.” Spike added.

“If it were evil, it’d just save itself and Pinkie, but it protected us too.” Ember continued.

“Maybe she was right. Maybe it isn’t some great darkness inside her.” Rarity commented.

“Huh, like a good party, Pinkie’s full o’ surprises.” Applejack smiled.

They hear a whistle through the air, and see an artillery shell shooting towards them. When they brace themselves, a black shadow suddenly casts over them. They open their eyes to see the Bug shielding them with her back, carrying an injured Sunset Shimmer. Behind the Bug, the Robot marches towards them, artillery cannon extended. “Murder. Kill.”

The Bug turns around and flings a fireball at the Robot, buying time to drop off Sunset Shimmer to her friends. “Sunset, are you hurt?” Twilight Sparkle asked her.

“What’s it look like?” Sunset Shimmer sarcastically responded before coughing. “That slash really caught me off-guard.”

As the Robot stands, the Bug tackles and teleports it away. The friends didn’t know where they went, until they hear explosions further up the valley. “Let’s get to safety. I trust Pinkie Pie can handle the Samurai herself.” Rarity advised her friends dashing to safety.

“Remember to record all this, Lil Flash!” Flash Sentry told his drone as he points it to the fight while fleeing.



As the two warriors duel, the Man of Shadows focuses solely on the gash in the Samurai’s chest, but his opponent uses its reduced awareness to his advantage by sweeping its feet before roundhouse-kicking it away. “[Come on! Prove you don’t fight like a child with a toy sword!]”

“You… na… Yu… na…”

“Say that again?” Pinkie Pie whispered to the Man of Shadows before a crescent slash fly at them. The Man of Shadows puts up its arm to block, but is instead forcibly pushed into a wall. When it pulls itself out of the wall, it finds a small crack under its forearm seeping with light. “Hey, we use a gun to transform. Why don’t we use that?” Pinkie Pie asked the Man of Shadows.

“Run… bolt…”

“I can’t run away now!”

“No… run… bolt…” The arm blade splits open wide into an arrow formation.

“The heck’s this?” Pinkie Pie motions the new weapon to her face.

“Raaah!” the Samurai charges his blade and flings three purple crescents.

The Man of Shadows defensively holds out its new weapon, but unexpectedly shoots bolts of darkness from the median, destroying the crescents. “Oooh… bolt! I get it!” Pinkie Pie realized. “You’re outta luck, Samurai! You know what they say about bringing a sword to a gunfight, or whatever this thing is!” Pinkie Pie threatened the Samurai with her arrow-arm.

“[Heh. I thought your heart lost its sparkle, but here you are fighting at full ignition!]” the Samurai laughs.

“Heart… kira… kira… Heart… ki…” the Man of Shadows again repeated. “Ig… ni… tion… Ig… nis…”

“What’re you saying? Is this like the smile thing again? ‘Cuz I’m sooo over that!” Pinkie Pie asked the voice in annoyance. When another crescent comes, the Man of Shadows jumps over, soaring high over the Samurai. As it leaps above his head, it rains down dark bolts.

The Samurai effortlessly deflects each and every incoming projectile, but leaves an opening for the Man of Shadows to slash him with its double blades. After shaking off that attack, the Samurai charges his blade and slashes at the Man of Shadows, but with its newfound speed it deflects every incoming attack before blasting the Samurai a mile away. “Not so fast now, are ya?”

“[This power… this speed… you’re closer to showing me that light from far beyond! Hahahaha! Wait until you grow huge again!]” the Samurai cackled manically.

“Ka… na… ta…” the Man of Shadows repeated certain words from the Samurai. “De… kai… De… ka…”

“[Let’s test your power!]” the Samurai raises his katana above his head, filling it with so much dark aura it extends to incredible size and length.

“Woah, mama!” Pinkie Pie looks at the size of the monstrous sword as it slashes down.

“Catch!” When the blade falls towards them, the Man of Shadows’ weapon catches it as a pincer. The Samurai tries to force it down further, but the Man of Shadows grips the blade tight and lifts the Samurai up into the air, swinging him around and around before throwing him into the sky.

“Now for the finishing move!” Pinkie Pie declared.

As the Samurai falls, the Man of Shadows looks at the light seeping from its cracked arm. “I… know… one…” It retracts the blades, then pumps its fists to its sides. Facing up, it crosses its hands at the wrist, then slowly sweeps them outwards, gathering light particles into the crack in its chest. Finally, it raises the crack in its forearm above its head, then crosses its left hand to its elbow, unleashing a beam of light from the crack that strikes the Samurai’s chest.

“[Yes! More! Mooore!]” the Samurai cackled as the beam wraps around his body before exploding, flinging his normal-sized katana into the gravel.

“Ooh, ooh! This is the part where I do a cool catchphrase!” Pinkie Pie giddily skipped. “What about: time’s up! Ooh! Or maybe: now that takes the cake! Or! Or! That’s how the cookie crumbles!” she acted out different poses.

“What… about…” the Man of Shadows turns away from the fireball and puts its fingers on its lips. “Smile… smile…!”

“Eh, what the heck? Smile, smile!” Pinkie Pie played along.



Having watched the fight from a safe distance, Pinkie Pie’s friends cheer as flaming debris showers the quarry. “Now that’s camera-worthy!” Flash Sentry said in awe as he holds up Lil Flash.

“That was incredible!” Spike said in awe.

“And to think it ever had a hard time contending with Torch!” Rainbow Dash cheered.

“Do you always get into fights this heavy?” Ember asked Applejack.

“Wish we did. Rough-housin’ does wonders fer the body.” Applejack shook her head until she hears a crick in her neck. “Yow!”

“I’m glad its on our side.” Rarity smiled at the Man of Shadows.

Then, when the Man of Shadows quickly turns to them, they jolt back in fear.

“…Right?” Fluttershy shivered.

Slowly, the Man of Shadows walks towards them, and all but Rarity backs off. When Rarity and the Man of Shadows meet, the dark warrior looks at her with its big white eyes. “I… did… something… nice…”

“Pinkie… are you there?” Rarity called.

The Man of Shadows grabs its chin and pulls it back like a hoodie, revealing Pinkie Pie’s smiling face. “I just made a speech about not losing my cool and protecting my friends. ‘Course I’m still here!” Pinkie Pie answered, cheerful as ever.

Twilight Sparkle approaches her cautiously. “I can’t believe it… not only you’ve overcome the darkness, but you’re using it for good!” she said in awe.

“I just had to realize this power isn’t to destroy my enemies, but to protect my dearest friends.” Pinkie Pie nodded. “It’s all thanks to the voice in my head I found a way to control this power.” She knocks the side of her head.

Then, the Man of Shadows suddenly shrouds Pinkie Pie’s face. “And… your… smiles…” it spoke as it traces a smile on its face, creeping-out everyone. “Smile… smile…”

The Man of Shadows snaps out of it and Pinkie Pie pulls back its face. “Oh, don’t worry about him. We’re cool.”

“I guess Pinkie was right. Maybe it isn’t just a creeping darkness inside her.” Sunset Shimmer said before going into thought. “But… what is it then, really?”

“You fought like a real superhero out there!” Rainbow Dash energetically praised Pinkie Pie. “No, super’s just not enough to describe what we saw! It was ultra-mazing, man!

“Ul… tra… Man…” the Man of Shadows repeated.

“Enough heart-to-heart. With the parasite’s outta the picture, let’s free my dad!” Ember hurried.

As they turn to the colossal dragon snoring in the cave, a copper claw takes the katana from the gravel; the Samurai stands there untouched and spinning his katana like nothing happened. “I thought we beat him!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“[Did you think that’s enough to take me down?! That power… that light… it’s what I’ve been waiting for!]” the Samurai before pointing his chakram at Torch. As it emanates a red glow, Torch awakens and lifts his head towards the friends, peering at them with a red glint in his eyes.

“Dad! It’s me, Ember! You gotta snap outta it!” Ember shouted to Torch.

Torch ignores her and opens his giant maw as an orange spark flickers at the back of his throat. “Everyone, behind me!” Rarity cautioned her friends before putting up her hands to create a diamond dome around everyone.

Everyone watches as the fire flows around the dome, yet feels none of the heat. Through the orange wisps, Sunset Shimmer spots the Samurai running towards Torch’s cave. “He’s getting away!” Sunset Shimmer pointed to him just before the fire ceases and is replaced by strong winds.

Torch pulls himself out of the cave and spreads his massive wings, flapping them in preparation for flight. “Pinkie, do something!” Rarity yelled to the Man of Shadows.

“Way ahead of ya!” she nodded before pulling down the Man of Shadows’ face and speeds towards the great dragon. With speed comparable to Rainbow Dash, the Man of Shadows resists the winds and zips around his massive clawed feet, quickly jumping onto his cuirass’ right buckle. As it sprouts an arm blade to sever it, a dark blast grazes its shoulder.

It looks up and sees the Samurai peeking from inside the armour, sticking out a claw engulfed in dark aura. “[Oi, no free rides!]”

“There you are!” the Man of Shadows reforms its arrow-arm and aims at him, but Torch starts to move erratically, smashing his body against the cave walls with the Man of Shadows and Pinkie Pie taking the brunt. “T-that all you got?!” despite this, they still held on tight after all the shaking, but failed to react to the incoming spade-tail smacking them out of the cave, just as it starts to collapse.

“[Now for the final part of your quality assurance: a durability test!]” the Samurai cackled before disappearing into Torch’s armour as he tauntingly wiggles his fingers at them.

Just as the Man of Shadows lies on the gravel, it was too late to find Torch’s foot directly above him. Failing to react in time, Torch crushes him underfoot before letting out a beastly roar. After the cave collapses behind him, Torch takes off north, back to Canterlot.

Everyone couldn’t believe it when the cave collapses into a pile of rubble, with no sign of Pinkie Pie or the Man of Shadows anywhere.

“Pinkie!” Rarity screamed.

“Get back here with my dad, parasite!” Ember screamed to the air.

“Did… we just lose…?” Spike whimpered.

To be continued…