//------------------------------// // The darkness within // Story: A Shadow’s Grave // by Pinkies Imagination //------------------------------// I can tell by the title you are all probably excited, so don't let me hold you up! Chapter 5: The darkness within I was in complete shock. I had no idea how to answer to that statement, so after what felt like hours I finally found my voice. "W-What do y-you mean something is wrong?" Twilight turned to me and sighed. "She has gotten really sick, and can barely speak. We cant even communicate with her. In the middle of the night the guards heard her screaming and went to check on her. She was on the floor passed out." I sat there for a moment thinking hard. 'How could she get so bad so fast... Then my eyes widened with realization. "Twilight, how soon can we get there." I spoke in a hurry. Twilight looked up confused and spoke. "Well... I can call for a chariot to be here, so maybe 15 minutes?" I nodded and turned back to everypony. "I need you all to come with me.... and...." I sat for a moment before continuing. "And bring the elements." Everypony gasped and turned to me. AJ was the first to speak up. "Are ya'll crazy? Who knows what kind of effect that can have on an alicorn!" Everyone nodded in agreement. I sighed and turned around and made my way to the door. "It's not for the princess... It's for me..." There was dead silence as I left the room and made my way to ponyville to wait for the chariot. I sat down on a bench and breathed in. 'So... I guess even me dieing just wasn't enough for you? You had to go and do this and ruin the life of another pony... I shed a tear as I finished that thought with an image of Flutter shy in my mind. 'Oh she will not like this, not one bit.' "Hey!" Called out Twilight from behind me startling me a bit. "Heheh... sorry... I just wanted to know.... what did you mean the elements were for you?" She said with a raised eyebrow. (Listen to this) 'Well, might as well tell someone what happened, I can't keep it a secret forever...' I sighed and looked over to her as she sat on the bench beside me. "Twilight, I need you to listen very carefully, you may not like what you are about to hear, but it is the ONLY way..." I took a deep breath as I began my story. "It all started when I was 7 years old... I had begun getting nightmares, but it was only ONE nightmare. And they have slowly and steadily been getting worse as the years pass. I began being haunted by a figure I have come to know as..." I sat for a moment and took a deep, shaky breath and continued, " as a shadow demon named Zane..." Twilight's eyes widened at the name. "So... that's the name of the voice I heard when I was going through worlds? What is hurting Celestia?" I nodded and continued. "As I reached 10 I could see him not only in my dreams, but around me, and I see visions of my family and people around me being hurt. One time he actually physically hurt my friend... but all the credit so to speak went to me." I let out a deep sigh and continued my story. "And to the point my parents began making me take classes, and talk to people about it, saying its all in my head. The day I turned 15 it just sort of... stopped... I don't know why but I think it had a plan. And now that he is within Celestia, we need to act... now...." (stop the music...that is...I-If you want to) After a few minutes a shuddering Twilight found her voice, "B-But what about that thing about the elements being used on you?" I slowly turned to Twilight and sighed, "Twilight, I need to do what i can to bring the shadow back to me, but during the process is probably the only time you'll have a chance to kill it, I need you to fire the elements as the switch is being made." Twilight began to tear up and pulled me into a hug, "And Twilight, I will not leave any of you, everything will turn out fine." I gave her a warm smile and she just sobbed and brought me back into the hug. ********************** We made it to Canterlot and ran towards the castle. When we reached the doors two guards called out, "No pony is allowed to see the prin-" He was cut off when I bolted by him and yelled back. "SorrygottagosaveTiabyebye!" And turned my head back in front of me and continued my sprint with the others. When we finally reached the throne room we saw Luna alone. "Luna! We can save the princess, but we need to see her now!" Luna did not hesitate, with a flash of her horn's magic we were all teleported to a room with things all around the walls representing the sun (her cutie mark) and a large bed in the center shaped the same with a weak Celestia on it. I ran over to her side and looked at how weak she was. "Tia... can you hear me?" Celestia did not look up but nodded slightly. "Good, I need you to listen very closely, I want you to funnel all of the magic you can towards me, leave NOTHING." This time she raised her head and asked in a very faint voice. "CJ... I don't think I can, and if I could, it would kill you..." I looked at her and smiled, "Tia, everything will be fine, I pinkie promise." I ended that sentence putting a finger in my eye. "-pcake In my ey- GAH-FUCK!" Everyone gave a small laugh, except Pinkie who just facehoofed. She looked back at me and smiled warmly, and began to stand up, when she was standing on her hooves, she lowered her horn to me. I began to see energy charge up and she began to whimper and let out small yelps of pain. Twilight began to use her magic to help her, and I turned to her. "No Twilight don't! Or else you co-" I was cut off when I saw a yellow and purple beam sail past me. And just before celestia collapsed a shadow like essence seeped out of her horn and shot towards Twilight. Without the elements being charged, and the shadow somehow looking pissed, it wanted to take the life of the one who helped remove it from the alicorn. Without thinking I sprint to Twilight and dove in front of her. 'I'm sorry Shy... I will miss yo-' My thoughts were cut off when the shadow made impact in my chest, and everything went black. (Listen to this in the backround) >>>Perspective change: Flutter shy<<< I watched as the shadow hissed through the air after Twilight, and just before impact a figure jumped in front of her. A very bright.... dark...? explosion erupted. When it faded I took a look around and saw everyone was ok... but... where was CJ? "CJ..." I whispered out... Twilight looked in shock and turned around to see me. "F-F-Flutter S-Shy... I-I...-" I cut her off by running out of the castle and back home leaving a trail of tears behind me. "H-He can't be gone... he just can't..."