//------------------------------// // Chapter 38 // Story: The Darkness Shard // by OliverSparkle //------------------------------// The mane eight, Spike, Capper and Sunburst were running and flying as quickly as they could to find some of their friends and warn them about the dark wolf attack they encountered. As they were running, they saw Solar Eclipse running towards them. They quickly stopped and just as they were about to react, Solar stopped while calmly saying, “Hey. Hey, Shadow sent me. Don’t worry, I’m on your side.” Everyone just stared at Solar before they all saw a dark wolf and two guards charging towards them. Solar used his magic to blast magic grasp lasers and shoot the wolf and the guards one by one as they all faded away in dark smoke. Once they were defeated, Solar turned back to the group and said, “See?” Twilight started to believe that Solar was telling the truth and he was now on their side. She nodded her head while saying, “Yep, that proves you are on our side.” “Agreed,” said Applejack. “Good,” said Solar happily, “Well now that you know I’m no longer helping Ardyn, what’s going on?” “A few dark wolves attacked us, but didn’t quite really attack us,” answered Pinkie which confused Solar. “What she’s trying to say is the dark wolves just let us attack them for some reason,” said Rainbow. “Which is why we need to warn the others before the same thing happens to them,” added Sunburst. “Then we better go find them,” said Solar, “There’s no telling what Ardyn might send out next.” “Let’s go,” said Spike as they started to run to find their friends with Solar following behind. But none of them noticed an evil bug queen flying above them and was heading towards the throne cave. Back at the snowy mountain, Oliver and Tempest were searching Makucha, Chuluun and Ora, but couldn’t find or see them anywhere. But they weren’t gonna give that easily since they knew the three might be trying to fool them so they can get to Lightning and Roni so easily. However, while searching for the three evil animals, Oliver continued help but feel worried about his little sister. Ever since Shining yelled at Flurry and made her feel like she’s not worthy to be the next Crystal Empire princess, he was worried that she might still think that and refused to take the throne when her time comes. Or worse, she could run away once or while this was happening. Tempest noticed this and went over to her boyfriend’s side. “Hey, you okay?” Tempest asked softly, “You worried about your nephew and Kion’s son?” “A bit. But I’m also worried about Flurry Heart. After my father yelled at her, I can’t help but think she’s gonna do something.” “What do you mean?” “Well,” Oliver began, “Ever since she started school, nopony wanted to be her friend or even play with her, all because she almost doomed the Crystal Empire after destroying the Crystal Heart when she was a baby, like she refuse to let it go already. And almost every day, she feels like she’s not wanted at the Crystal Empire and she is not worthy of becoming the next princess anymore.” Tempest gasped in shock. “You don’t think she’s planning on not accepting the princess role when Cadence retires, do you?” “That’s what I’m worried about the most,” he answered, “Mother said she’s the only pony in the family we trust to protect the Crystal Empire. But now, thanks to those students and my father, she may just refuse the role. She’s talking about doing it ever since her second school day. She only has me and Aunt Twilight to play with, whenever we’re not busy. When she’s with us, she’s happy and doesn’t talk about refusing the role.” “She’s very lucky to have you and the princess in her family then,” said Tempest while smiling. “Yeah. And let’s not forget Sora, Donald, Goofy and Kairi. They’re like the greatest friends she ever had before she started school.” “Can’t argue on that.” “But still, I just wish those children would learn to let the past events go, mistakes happen and Flurry didn’t mean to do it.” “I’m sure they will one day,” Tempest said softly, “Perhaps they just don’t know when to understand that not everyone meant to let bad things happen to their hometown.” Oliver looked at his girlfriend and gave her a small smile. “Yeah, you’re right. But maybe I should go into her school, once this is over, and have a word with the headmare about what’s been going on.” “That sounds like a good idea,” said Tempest, “But now, it’s best you go quickly check on your sister. Just to see if she’s okay.” Oliver was surprised by what Tempest just said to him. “Really? But what about finding Makucha, Chuluun and Ora? I can’t leave you here to find them alone.” “Relax. I can handle them myself till you come back. I used to be a commander, remember?” “Point taken,” said Oliver. “Now go to her,” said Tempest, “She’ll need comforting by her big brother.” “Okay, I’m on it.” Oliver began making his way back to the Tree of Life to check on her little sister. But before he could go any further, something ghostly pushed him aside and made him to fall to the snow on his side. “Oliver!” Tempest said worriedly. She was about to run up to help him, but something, or rather someONE, bit her one of her hooves. She yelled in pain before falling on the snow. Tempest started groaned in pain from her hoof as she saw it was Ora that bit her. “You,” she hissed while glaring at the Komodo dragon. “Not just him,” said the voice of Makucha as Tempest saw the leopard appearing from the snowy patch boulder. “But me as well.” “And me,” said Chuluun as she jumped onto the non-snowy ground revealing herself from her disguise. “Should known you three might find us first,” said Oliver while getting back up. “And yet, you still couldn’t see me through my disguise,” said Chuluun while grinning, “And you never will.” “Oh I don’t think so.” Oliver’s magic started to glow as he shot out a puddle of ink towards the snow leopard. The ink landed on Chuluun and covered her fur from head to tail and down to her paws. “Ew! What is this stuff?!” Chulunna asked in disgust while trying to shake the ink off her. “It’s called ink,” answered the male alicorn, “And I’ve just covered you in some.” Chuluun growled angrily before saying, “You’re so gonna regret doing that!” She leaped into the air and was about to jump on Oliver, but she was suddenly caught by his magic as he grinned at her before saying, “Yeah, doubt it.” Oliver used his magic to throw Chuluun to the ground as she slip on her side. She got up and glared at Oliver while growling before charging at him. However, before she could even attack him as she got to him, Oliver turned into his ink demon form and punched the snow leopard causing her to fly and hit a boulder on her side. “How?!” Chuluun asked while getting back up, “You can’t see me through my disguise!” The Ink Demon melted away turning Oliver back into his normal self as he grinned at Chuluun and said, “Why’d you think I’ve covered you with ink for?” Chuluun growled at Oliver again. She glared at Ora and angrily said, “Well?! Are you just gonna stand there and let me do everything?! Get over there and kill him!” “Don’t tell me what to do!” Ora growled, “No one tells me what to do!” “Stop it already, you two!” Makucha said angrily, “You two can argue about this later!” Before the three could say or do anything else, they felt themselves being put on ice. That’s where Oliver used both his ink magic and bits of snow to freeze Makucha, Chuluun and Ora. The ice slowly rose from their paws and claws all the way up to their heads. “Probably till the sun decides to break the ice,” said Oliver. Oliver walks over to Tempest, who was still feeling pain from Ora’s bite on her hoof. She was struggle stand back on her hooves as the pain was hurting. She saw Oliver approaching her as he said, “That’ll hold them for awhile.” He carefully helped Tempest up and placed her hoof behind his neck so he can help her walk. “Come on, let’s get you to Nirmala. She’ll be able to help.” Tempest nodded her head. The two began to make their way back to the Tree of Life with Oliver helping Tempest walk. They were walking slowly due to the bite on Tempest’s hoof. “I hope the others are okay,” said Tempest, “I feel like we won’t be the ones to be ambushed.” “I feel the same thing too,” said Oliver, “I just hope Lightning and Roni are okay and haven’t been taken.” Lightning was still in the throne cave with his friends and was still being held by Silverstream with his head resting on her fur chest while she gently stroked his head in comfort. Lightning started to whimper in fear a bit. He was scared that Ardyn and his followers were going to succeed in capturing both him and Roni, especially by his father. Silverstream saw this and softly hushed the poor colt. “Shhhh…it’s okay, cutie. You’re safe. We’ve got you. No one’s gonna hurt or take you as long as we’re around.” Lightning slowly looked at Silverstream, showing the small tears in his eyes. “I…I-I just want e-everything t-to be back to n-normal. I want to have a-a normal life. N-No one a-after me, n-no Storm monsters, n-no d-darkness, a-and no D-daddy.” “We all do, Braveheart,” said Smolder while gently stroking her boyfriend’s shoulder, “But it’s going to be okay. Your mother, our teachers and new friends will make sure Ardyn doesn’t lay a single finger on you or Roni, and we’ll make sure none of his followers take either of you away. Especially Cozy Glow and your father.” “B-But I c-can’t h-help, but feel like t-this is a-all m-my f-fault,” said Lightning, “I-If I h-haven’t b-been b-born, n-none of this would h-have happened.” “Lightning, none of this is your fault,” said Sandbar, “Including the other dangers we went through in the past.” “Yeah, kid, don’t say it like that,” said Gallus, “If you haven’t been born, then none of our lives would have been better if we haven’t had met you.” “It wouldn’t?” Asked Lightning. “Of course not,” replied the blue griffon, “If you haven’t had to come to our school and became part of Fluttershy’s family, none of us would have been more happier than we were before. I mean, Fluttershy’s life wouldn’t have been much better if she didn’t find you, Silverstream wouldn’t be much happier to have somepony cute in the circle and Smolder wouldn’t be much happier if she didn’t have you as her boyfriend.” “That’s true,” said Smolder. “And we really still love having you as our friend, whether you’re The Storm King’s grandson or not,” added Ocellus. “Yeah,” said Gallus, “You’re like the opposite of him, and we don’t like him. I mean, he’s all “rule everything and make everyone fear me”. But you, you refused to be like him, even before discovering you’re related to him. You’re kind, polite and smart.” “And adorable too,” added Yona. “And that’s why we still love you, cutie,” said Silverstream, “And nothing is going to stop us from caring about you.” “You…you guys really mean it?” “Of course we do,” answered Smolder, “Even though we can’t stop threats from happening or stuff, like this, from continuing again and again, we still love you, no matter what we discover.” “And not to mention we’re nice and safe in Kion and Rani’s throne cave with none of Ardyn’s followers harming us,” said Sandbar. “You might want to rephrase that, dear,” said a familiar female voice. “That voice…” said Ocellus until she suddenly knew whose voice it belongs to as her eyes went into wide eyed shock, “Chrysalis?!” They looked up and saw two green eyes in the shadows above as a body twisted round with joints cracking. The villain in the shadows hovered down to reveal it was Chrysalis. She landed near where the exit of the cave was and grinned at the students. “Surprised to me again? Did you honestly thought our last meeting lasted long?” “If you’re here for my boyfriend, then you can’t forget it!” Smolder growled, “We won’t let you touch him!” “Oh really? And just how are you going to stop me? Hmm?” Chrysalis asked. “Not what we’re going to do, but what I’M going to do!” Said Ocellus angrily before flying towards the evil changeling as she pushed her straight outside the cave. “Ocellus!” Lightning cried worriedly. “We have to go after them!” Said Sandbar, “There’s no telling what Chrysalis can do to her!” “After them!” Yona shouted. Silverstream gently placed Lightning on her back and the six ran out of the cave to find and help Ocellus. The lion guard, the night pride and Roni were still keeping an eye out on their side of the Tree of Life, when suddenly they all heard a loud bang to the ground just a few miles near them. “What was that?” Fuli asked. “It came from there,” said Azaad while pointing to where the sound came. “Do you think it’s one of Ardyn’s followers?” Roni asked in fear. “I’m not sure, sweetie,” said Rani as she gently hugged her child, “But if it is one of them, we won’t let them take you. I promise.” “I’ll go check it out,” said Beshte, “You stay here and protect Roni.” “Okay,” said Kion, “Call us if you need any help.” “Will do,” said the friendly hippo before running to where that loud noise came from. Ocellus had pushed Chrysalis as far as she could, so she was away from the throne cave, and two crashed onto the grass. Ocellus flip jumped off the evil changeling and landed near her as she glared at her. Chrysalis twisted herself back onto her hooves and glared back at Ocellus and said, “How dare you try to hurt me! How dare you defy your queen!” “I have no queen. And you are no queen! I am a free changeling who can live in peace and harmony! And I will save Lightning and my friends, and keep you away from them!” Chrysalis growled before shooting a green grasp beam at Ocellus, but she quickly dodged the beam by flying to her right. Chrysalis tried again, but the young Changeling kept on flying to the left and to right while dodging the attacks. “Hold still!” Chrysalis shouted while shooting again. Ocellus dodged the beam before blowing a raspberry at Chrysalis and said while grinning, “Make me.” Chrysalis yelled in anger before shooting more beams at her. Ocellus flew around, dodging the beams, but one beam managed to hit as she yelled in pain. Ocellus fell to the ground and landed on her side. She tried to get up, but quickly fell unconscious. Chrysalis walked over to Ocellus and grinned evilly at her. “Got ya.” A dark corridor appeared as Chrysalis used her magic to levitate up Ocellus before carrying her into the corridor. However, little did she know that a hippo saw what has happened and followed her into the corridor before it disappeared.